by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
The Sri Lankan armed forces have registered a significant military triumph over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). It seems clear that the LTTE’s capacity to wage a full-fledged conventional war against the state has been critically undermined.
There is a lot of anxiety and concern about the fate of Sri Lankan Tamils in a transformed situation where the LTTE has been downsized from its earlier position of being the determining factor in the Island’s politics. This does not necessarily mean that the LTTE “struggle” had achieved some concrete gains for the Tamil people and that its perceived decline would have a negative impact. Nevertheless it must be realised that there are many Tamils who feel insecure about their plight in a post-war scenario.
Clash of two ideas
The sad post-independence history of the island has been a clash of two ideas: of the Sinhala hardliners who wanted a hegemonic, Sinhala supremacist state, and the Tamil hardliners who strove for a separate state of Tamil Eelam. What has happened now is that the most virulent proponents of the ‘two-state’ theory have been routed on the military front. On the other hand this victory seems to have aroused a visible emotion of triumphalism among sections of the majority community.
The government, pursuing its objective of defeating the LTTE, has adopted harsh, tough measures in the recent past, leaving the Tamils embittered and alienated.
Thus many Tamils fear that with the LTTE ceasing to be a viable factor in the new equation, the Tamil people could undergo greater problems and suffering in the future. Compounding these fears has been the intensive LTTE propaganda that the international community in general and India in particular have aligned themselves with Colombo and were collaborating with majoritarian hawks in implementing an anti-Tamil agenda.
Two key factors
Against this backdrop, the question “whither the Tamils in a post-war climate?” has a sense of urgency requiring speedy attention. Fundamentally, the Tamils need to understand two salient factors.
The first is the point that the conflict has gone beyond its original causes. If the Tamils opted for a separate state owing to certain discrimination and unaddressed grievances, the brutal war has brought in a whole set of new problems dwarfing the original ones. Many of the ills afflicting Tamils now are due mainly to the war. It is logical therefore to assume that many of these war-related issues would gradually cease or lose their potency in a non-war situation.
The second factor is the paradigm shift that has occurred in the nature of ethnic relations in the country after the Indo-Lanka accord of July 1987. The earlier tendency of denying or ignoring Tamil discontent or opposing devolution has decreased considerably. The advent of Chandrika Kumaratunga and Ranil Wickremasinghe was a positive symptom of this change.
The debate was about the unit and substance of devolution. If the Tamil leadership had utilised this perceptible shift constructively, vast progress could have been made. Unfortunately, it was the LTTE that foiled such moves. Imposing itself on the Tamils as their ‘sole representative,’ the LTTE did not create an appropriate climate for positive political gain. Instead the conduct of the Tigers polarised the communities further and evoked an equally hawkish attitude from the Sinhala side.
The downside to the recent military victory is a growing mindset among sections of the majority to belittle or underestimate the nature of the problem. The Tamil national question is being depicted as a ‘terrorist’ problem. ‘Now that the LTTE has been vanquished we can all live as children of one family’ is the credo. There is no further need to recognise Tamil rights or work out a devolution scheme, it is argued.
‘Two state’ dream turns nightmare
While acknowledging the legitimacy of these fears and concerns, the Tamil people would do well to accept reality, however bitter it may be to some elements. The secessionist two-state dream is no more. The past months have seen the dream becoming a nightmare. The future and well being of the Tamil people are inextricably intertwined with that of Sri Lanka and its people. All future efforts to secure rights and share power have to be within the unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
The Tamils need to remind themselves that the LTTE, despite its prolonged campaign, has ultimately achieved nothing for the Tamil people. If the LTTE had converted the military strength it once enjoyed into bargaining power at the negotiating table, the Sri Lankan Tamils would have been much better off. It did not and in the process has brought misery and despair to the Tamil people. What is now left is for the shattered people to pick up the pieces and proceed towards progress. If the Tamils recapture that sense of pragmatism for which they were once famous, there could certainly be dazzling light at the end of the tunnel.
The onus however is on the Rajapaksa dispensation. It must demonstrate clearly that it has no hidden hawkish Sinhala agenda. It must go the extra mile in making estranged Tamils feel they are once again part and parcel of the island nation.
There are some matters, both short and long term, requiring urgent and positive action in this regard.
What needs to be done
There is an immediate need to provide adequate and proper relief to the 200,000 persons who were recently displaced due to escalation of the war. The facilities available are abysmal. While providing relief is crucial, what is more important is the imperative need to resettle all these IDPs (internally displaced persons) in their original dwelling place as early as possible. There are some apprehensions that the IDPs will be kept in camps for an indefinite period. There is also suspicion of a hidden government agenda to settle Sinhalese in the Wanni and to alter demographic patterns. Early resettlement can dispel this anxiety. This has to be followed by the re-settlement of all displaced people from all communities in the island. Currently, the IDP figure has topped a million.
The government must reach out specifically to the Tamils. In the past, it alienated many Tamils through its obsession with the war. Now is the time to move away from capturing Tiger-controlled territory to capturing the hearts and minds of the Tamil people. The stringent security conditions must be gradually relaxed. Those detained without trial or charges being filed must be released. Security measures like checks and searches must be relaxed in a phased-out manner.
A special financial package is necessary to help the people of the North and East re-construct and develop their battered economy and shattered lives. An environment conducive to investment and growth must be created. Instead of frittering away its resources for an unwinnable goal, the Tamil diaspora must focus on stimulating and boosting the Northeastern economy.
Constitutionally, Tamil is now on a par with Sinhala as an official language. This however is not being implemented. Efforts should be under way to implement Tamil as an official language through the length and breadth of the country. An adequate number of Tamil-speaking officials must be recruited quickly to the public service.
The fragmented Tamil polity must realign and renew itself. At present the Tamil parties are either pro-government or pro-LTTE. There should be re-appraisal and revision of this course. Extremes should be spurned and the middle ground sought and attained. The evolving Tamil political leadership must set realistic goals and seek them through co-operative rather than confrontational approaches.
The government must go ahead with the unfinished task of nation building through genuine power sharing. Much valuable time has been lost and many opportunities squandered in the past. Mahinda Rajapaksa’s stock is sky-high with the Sinhala masses now. Any meaningful political concessions to the Tamil and Muslim people by President Rajapaksa would not be viewed with suspicion. He is therefore in a position to introduce a political package and implement it without risk of a Sinhala backlash. Powers devolved under the 13th amendment could be a starting point or basis. But the package has to be 13th amendment plus.
The international community, India in particular, has a crucial role to play. The nations that assisted Colombo in the fight against the LTTE must now begin assisting and encouraging the government to deliver politically to the long-suffering Tamils. While helping to evolve a political settlement, they must also ensure that the economy receives a boost. The war-ravaged infrastructure of the Northeast can be rebuilt through external aid and input. There is a need for the international community and India to demonstrate to the Tamil people that they objected to the LTTE and not the Tamils.
These then are the parameters within which a renaissance is possible within a united Sri Lanka. Despite bleak prospects in a post-war scenario, the beleaguered Tamil people must once again move towards the goal of being an integral component of the Sri Lankan nation. The government must reciprocate by re-inventing and re-invigorating a ‘new’ Lanka for its long-awaited tryst with destiny.
[This Article was written specifically for "The Hindu" newspaper. It appears as a leader page article in "The Hindu" of May 21st 2009]
I can be reached on dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com
good article.blueprint for future.
DBS,
this is best of your writing so far. i sincerely wish govt and tamils listen to you
Tamils must put what happened behind them and get on with life
Life is thickly sown with thorns, and I know no other remedy than to pass quickly through them. The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us – Voltaire
To me what you have proposed here has been the pragmatic solution always. There never was room for a two-state solution. I agree that MR can utilize his popularity for maximum devolution with minimum opposition from Southern extremists but I think he himself is very chauvinistic.
Hello every tamils,
Good article from DBSJ and it is need for the time. However, donot say LTTE did not achieve any thing, Before LTTE period, Did any of those world countries willing to consider or think about our problem? Now LTTE leaved our freedom struggle to world.. And this is the time, Our people in all over the world need to lead this struggle and get the accpetable solution for us. In case of rejecting for that from government, no choice of forming new country… We were able to get with international support. So, Every tamils in this world, even you are agree or not agree with LTTE or their activities. It is not a time to think or discuss about it, Donot worry abt leader and we will 100% believe that he will back soon to public and nothing as your hear from all news or videos or photos. Now it is not time to analysis the those news and find differences, I am very disappointed with some of the tamil online news sites as they need to act fast.
We need to united over the world, There were lot of tamils all over the world in powerful positions too. Form a organization independent from any political or military organizations, We all are from Ellam Tamils, we need to get rights at this time. We have paid higher price last 30 years and we can not try it again. Please bring all the Tamils to join and form discussion panels in country level, talk to those country leaders and lead our struggle in international level.. This is the good chance for us. We should not miss it.. Please every one pass this news to all tamils..
Mr. Jeyaraj. Congratulations. A very commendable analysis. Please continue your good work.
I agree with you DBS. You have hit the nail on the head, yet again. Please fellow tamil folks, this is a golden opportunity, if we play our cards right. We many never get a chance like this, to get close to what we need, ever again.
Rajapaksa is a determined chap. We have to convince him that what he need to do next is all the things that DBS alluded to above. And we have to support MR in this. If the economy falters or if there is excessive critisism of MR, without the carrots, then we may well have lost the plot.
Lets put out thinking caps on and see and understand the reality and the golden words DBS has spoken.
Should i hold my breath awaiting a new Lanka? Will the Government go the extra mile? Here’s hoping for peace with dignity for all the people of this nation.
If and only if Tamils living abroad and in India do not attempt to re ignite the fire for an exclusive geographical place for Tamils, then there is every possibility of a new era ushering with prosperity in Srilanka.
Let us hope the opportunists does not get much opportunity to :
pursue their selfish hidden agenda to sabotage the paths to peace and block possible unity of Srilankans living in Srilanka.
Let us hope.
postwar tamils are now either patriots or non patriots.
patriots will be further classified ino 3 categories
1.those that kiss da soil-patriot class3
2.those that put da soil in da mouth and spit it out-patriot class 2.
3.those that put da soil in da mouth and swallow it too-patriot class 1
Agree with your vision for a unitary and one new Lanka. Agree with the need for development of the North and East.
However, I am not sure about the political solution in the sense that what exactly is required.
To my thinking, what is required is to create an environment where everyone is able to live and work anywhere in Sri Lanka and everyone is judged based on merit, not based on race. Race, creed, region is immaterial.
We need to move away from many things to do with races/ethnicities. In this context, I would like to see race-based political parties to vanish. This goes to JHU too. Only political parties should be the ones with multi-racial representation.
Other important thing is for the government to introduce an Equal Opportunity Legislation where every Sri Lankan is free to do anything and judged on merit, but not on race. Anti-discrimination legislation is absolutely essential too.
Enacting such laws as well as practising those are absolutely important and to my thinking that is what we need.
In that way, one day a Tamil will become the President on Sri Lanka, not because he/she is a Tamil, but because that person has the best policies for Sri Lankas prosperity. That day people will not look at ones race.
On the other hand, resettlement should occur not just for the present group of IDPs, but also for those who were chased away by the LTTE from Jaffna and East years ago, both Muslims and Sinhalese. Many people, LTTE supporter diasporas in particular, have conveniently forgotten about this group of IDPs.
I like what the President said, there are no more minorities in Sri Lanka. Equal rights for all, nothing more, nothing less.
Let us hope,
all Sinhalese and Tamils in Srilanka may realise that they have to be united and be together as one to face the real challenges in the world .
Why only northern Tamils (diaspora) have all these problems. Why Muslims and other do not have any other problem? How upcountry Tamils living peacefully? If Tamils rally have some special problems what are they.
Lack of Tamil speaking officers in government service? Any other issues?
DBSJ, I agree with most of our thought is “What needs to be done” section. Well done.
Wow! That sounds like a re-incarnation of DBSJ.
[quote]
The future and well being of the Tamil people are inextricably intertwined with that of Sri Lanka and its people. All future efforts to secure rights and share power have to be within the unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
[/quote]
Well said sir!
Mr. dbs
What you argue is correct. The struggle for slefdeterminaion whould be revised firts, in the post war scenario. It should be redesigned to be as much inclsuive of concern parties as possible, and the crucial point is that the future struggle should be for Tamil speaking, not only for Tmils. The grave mistake in the past was to seperation of the Tamil speaking Muslim community from the streggel. It is obvious that it is LTTE who is responsible for this. Now Tamils should rethink and redisign a struggle in which Muslims community is an important stake holders. This will multiply the stregth of the struggle and it justification as Minority of Sri Lanka. How it could be, the shape could be discussed and designed. If Muslim community has been an inseperable factor in the struggles of the past, as it had been before 1990, the story would have been somethingelse.
Restrat a struggle of selfdetermination of Minority of Sri Lanka, having inputs of the lessons of the past and the caliber of the Muslim community of the present and the future.
“It seems clear that the LTTE?s capacity to wage a full-fledged conventional war against the state has been critically undermined. “?????????
Dear Mr. DB, Could you please explain this? Seems like an undertone of warning to Sri Lankan government.Please explain in layman’s terms that what you really wanted to say……
It is written in layman’s terms as you put it and is quite clear needing no elaboration ……….DBSJ
See where are we now!?
Future of Sri Lanka will be another Hawaii for Indian Capitalist.
All business in Sri Lanka will be run by Indians soon.
All hotels and tourism industry will be run by Indians.
All political system (from President to local government) will be decided by Indians
May be at that time Tamils and Sinhalese united and fight for independence once again.
Until then no peace is possible in Sri Lanka
Our 25 years struggle tragically ended with disastrous result.
Lot of people knew this is coming and just matter of time. Ego and over confidence destroyed everything.
We need to have pragmatic leaders who have real concern for our people. We can’t turn back the clock. Let’s move forward with just one goal “Equal rights to Tamil People”.
Dear DBS,
I fully endorse your moderate views as a Sinhalese and please be assured that there will be lot of Sinhalese who would come forward to lend a hand for just cause of Tamils in a unitary Sri Lanka. Even though most of us are in a jubilant mood over this victory, it doesn’t mean that we are against Tamils of our country. Please go ahead and convince everyone that we all of us have to live in this country harmoniously.
Well done DBS.
Excellent article. This is exactly what we want now. Let us all ( TAMIL,SINHALA,MUSLIM ,BERGER) be the sons and daughters of this great country call ” SRI LANKA”
This is the way forward DBSJ, but with one obstacle: is it really possible, if a crime against humanity was committed by the GoSL and there is now a rightful question of justice for the Tamils under the norms of international law?
DBS,
You are absolutely RIGHT!
Please make your article the basis (an opening discussion paper) for an open dialog to reinforce lasting peace in Sri Lanka!
We have no time to waste! Please get into the act….!
Thank you!
My theory is this that the entire left over LTTE structure along with their families surrendered to the 58 brigade on Sunday when MR was in Jordan. This was done with the help of Norway and ICRC. Hence MR saying the war is won even before announcing that VP is dead. Then they massacred each and every member of the surrendered team including VP’s family and Nadesan’s Sinhalese wife. Then they slowly brought the dead bodies out. They probably have some Key LTTE operatives alive (such as Soosai and Pottu Ammnan) That’s why the very next day the Army ambushed and killed 5 LTTE members in Batticaloa based on inside information. LTTE leaders outside SL know this and have only accepted that Nadesan, his wife and Puleethevan were killed when they surrendered but have to keep quiet about the fact that VP too surrendered and was shot and killed. This may go to war crimes court if Norway and ICRC pursues this further. But this also gives a fresh start to Tamils in Sri Lanka. Start from scratch and allows India to get involved in Sri Lanka deeply now that VP and LTTE is out of the picture.
Brilliant analysis and superbly written.
Meek and mild will not work in Colombo Parliament nor any where else for that matter. Perhaps assertiveness training is a better way to deal with the issue.
I cringe when I hear Sinhala lunatic claim Sri Lanka is for Sinhalese only. Instead of me defending Tamils I prefer SL Tamils themselves to assert their birthright to Sri Lanka.
I think the message over the last few days was pretty clear….Live and prosper as a Sri-Lankan or get roasted as a terrorist….if in doubt, just ask the sun god….who by the way is alive and well in Toronto, singing with Elvis….
The tamil diaspora who funded these filthy terrorists should at least now, understand that terrorism is a dead end road to tamil eelam….which has now been established in HELL.
United all sri-lankans can build a better nation…unfortunately the tamil diaspora may not have the common sense to understand this simple concept.
The people who thinks VP is dead!
[http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2009/5/43904_space.html?CH881242883260718&lnprnd=1242883260718&skipcache=y]
you have presented a comprehensive post war picture and analysis. this will help us in our advocacy work.
Why are people still saying Prabhakaran is still alive? I don’t get it. Are so many people in denial? Everbody claiming he is still alive are prominent leaders in the Tamil National movement and benefit greatly by keeping him alive.
Can not the masses see the pictures and decide for themselves? Surely, they are not herd following the political agendas of KP, Vaiko and Nedumaran?
It’s sad to see the Eelam Tamils, already an exploited bunch, being further exploited by such leaders at such a monumentous time of change. Change that can be utilized to finally create a significant breakthrough with the rise once again of Tamil moderates.
Shame on Tamilnet as well for procuring such a story of keeping the LTTE alive and not providing any other information since his demise. Since the 18th the website has reported no stories of the loss of LTTE top rung leaders or the loss of cadres and the civilian situation of the IDPs.
The identity of the Eelam Tamils are not based on one man, we as a people need to take greater responsibility and be our own leaders and create the change we so desire.
Let me add one more point DBS,
While the Government should approach the progressive thinking Tamils, they also should let the International legal system takes it due course.
You don’t set bad examples on either side.
If LTTE was a bad example for any Liberation movement, Certainly GoSL set the worst example how to fight a war in a foreign territory. When I say Foreign, All the people who got killed or massacred are Tamils.
There are reasonable fears on every Tamils that Mahinda and his Regime will develop the liberated Vanni with Soldiers family and make this an Arms manufacturing land.
Why the GoSL want another 40000 new Recruits, Do you have any answer?
Tamils fate should be defined and acheived by Nort-East tamils
Two insurgencies have ended in the recent times.
1. Maoists in Nepal Insurgents succeeded by adopting appropriate tactics. They never /less involved in political and innocent killings
2. LTTE in Sri Lanka Insurgents have miserable failed. They adopted completely incorrect tactics. Killed hundreds of politicians and thousands of innocents
Dear Tamil Diaspora Time to think. You are the sole reason in boosting Prabhharans ego. he went beyond reality.
Dear DBS,
This is a great piece. It’s great to see the moderate view. This is a stark contrast to the we-can’t-deal-with-the-sinhalese-therfore-a-sperate-state kind of ideology emanating from the likes of Mr. David Poopalapillai & Co from Canada. Surely you must be having the right connections in Colombo – why don’t you try to be part of the post-conflict resolution process?
DBSJ RESPONDS:
Thanks but NO. I am just a journalist who wishes to keep on writing till the end of my life. I started this blog so that I could write more on non – political , non – military topics. But the situation was such that Just could not move away much from politics and war. Now I hope to diversify and write a lot on things that interest me. Not war or politics. But I will continue to support through writing all positive, good moves and criticise the bad ones.
Obivisiouly, VP was not killed by GOSL.
It was by the people those who carried his pictures and called him “National leader and Sun God”. It was the people who praised him to the sky killed him. When VP sees people calling him “National Leader and Sun God” he started to have over confidence. This further isolated from the reality. He didn’t realise what people want in N&E. What a tragic end?
We need visionary leaders. We have gained the international sympathy that we lost for the last 10-15 years.
Please stop calling people “Traitors” just because he has different view from you.
Let’s work together as united front for the sake our people. They need us the most now than ever before.
Dear DBS,
You talk about unity and not about two separate states.
Some Tamils believe that the Sinhalese would never agree for devolution of power; which is a complete hoax. Otherwise they would have never elected CBK and RW who talked about a federal system. What actually happened was, during the time of RW’s CFA, the LTTE made a mockery of it angering the Sinhalese. They went on a killing spree, humiliating the government and killing many many people whom they said were military informants. This in turn humiliated Sinhalese people who talked about a federal system. By boycotting the 2005 presidential election, they fixed the last nail on the coffin of the people who talked against the war.
Since the LTTE is no more, there is a possibility of the voice of Sinhalese against the war being echoed. Since MR enjoys tremendous support from the masses, he can devolve more power as people believe that he is for a united Sri Lanka. The best that Tamils can do now is to voice their concerns democratically and by non violent means. They should not misinterpret that the anger that Sinhalese had towards the LTTE as an ager towards Tamil population.
The post-independence history of the island has been a clash of two ideas. Hardliners wanted an authoritarian, gender biased, xenophobic, chauvinistic, militarized police state based on either an exclusive, conservative and repressive Sinhala Buddhist or Tamil Nationalist ideology.
There are others who prefer a tolerant, inclusive, gender neutral, cosmopolitan state, open to all the world. welcoming of dissent and innovation, protective of the human rights of its citizens and all who lived within its jurisdiction, firmly based on democratic and legal processes and actively advocating the protection of such rights and processes at international level. These are the people who are being categorized as terrorist sympathisers and as those who have no love for their country. These are the people that the hardliners see as their enemies.
As Mahinda said there are now only two kinds of people in Sri Lanka, those who love their country, and those who do not love their country. Those who are tolerant, inclusive, gender neutral, and cosmopolitan are seen as having no love for their country. Mahinda chinthana calls for their destruction just as Piraphakarans Thamileelam did.
(EDITED)
Do you really expect MR to do anything for the Tamils other than to keep them as an oppressed and intimidated minority. Does his record point to anything different??
Politics is war without spilling blood
War is a Blood shed Politics
Phase I : Started by the Mild mannered SJV and so on, All non Violent and all political, with some blood shed on one side ( Tamil side by the Sinhala Thugs and Supremist)
Phase II : This is all about the war with no room for Ploitics ( which has just Concluded)
Phase III : This is where we pick the mantle. One the conflict has been handed over to the International Community, two the Diaspora is in a position that we will do all we can to strangle the Economy of the Srilankan Nation.
Four years ago I said and I repeat the same, it is not Bullets that is going to give us Freedom, it is the Collective response from the Diaspora that will bring us PEACE.
“Peace only exist, when you take the side of the Justice”
We cannot le the war crime go unpunished.
DBSJ,
In addition to what you have proposed it is paramount for the Sri Lankan Tamils to identify genuine leaders among them; who have vision and foresight. With due respect to A’ Sangari, Douglas, Karuna and other current Tamil politicians, Tamil people from both North & East should align themselves under a committed leadership to consolidate their democratic franchise; nearly half million minority votes that will be sought after by MR for his re-election. He will probably hope for a fragmented Tamil vote bank some of which he will be able to amass with the help of Tamil politicians who are now aligned with him. When the Sinhalese voters are equally divided in the forthcoming presidential election (UNP has consistent 40% from the Sinhalese vote bank) MR can not win his re-election without the votes cast by the minority. It is an open secret that he won the previous election with the connivance of LTTE which restricted Tamils under their control from voting for Ranil.
From now on what we will probably see is that MR will continue to pamper with Tamil IDP by appointing some of them as MPs, Ministers, councilors etc. who will garner Tamil votes for MR in the next presidential election. If Tamils, for that matter Muslims as well, used this powerful democratic franchise in the next presidential election they can elect the right Sinhalese leader who can provide the most acceptable political solution to their long standing ethnic grievances.
April, I agree with you on the point of war crimes. I think if a crime against humanity has been committed then there must be justice before people can move on. People are trying to paper over what happened in the latter stages of the last week as part of war, but there seems a serious case to investigate if not answer. for WAR CRIMES. The international community should insist on this as should every civilised human being and not get swept up in ‘patriotic”rancour.
I salute DBS for saying this-
[[[ Early resettlement can dispel this anxiety. This has to be followed by the re-settlement of all displaced people from all communities in the island. Currently, the IDP figure has topped a million.]]]
This is the first time i heard a tamil speaking on behalf of the non tamils who were forcibly evicted out of their homes in the north.
Let’s be clear. It’s a first time for you I think……… DBSJ
Mr DBS even though i agree with your views, i think you have written this by simply thinking MR and co are demigods landed in earth to save Tamilians
Mr. Siva, have you really not understood or just pretending ? ………………..DBSJ
Not to worry. So much has to do with timing. The Sri Lankan State will let down its guard yet again. That is when the Eelam Tamils will offer their counter-strike. We have no shortage of people; of course, to find someone of Prabhakaran’s caliber is difficult. But we can do it… it is not an impossible task.
Hi Jay,
You have pointed out very importants facts. Thank you very much and please do use your pen to point out these.
We all sinhalese must realise that we need to win the hearts and minds of tamil community. For this we have to go extra mile in providing them the required and desivered status. They are not slaves , like us they are resources of our motherland of which our country couldnt use for long time.
We have to forget past look future positievely and we need to change our attitued towards tamils.
Every tamil must be able to get their work done in their own language in any where in the country equally as sinhalese as well sinhalese must too have equal states in north and east.
This cannot be done instantly but we all must put forward our steps to achieve common goals. There will be never two countries, only one country one nation and they are Sri lankans.
As a sinhalese before I die I want to see the beauty of North and east and at last to purchase a land leagaly in north of which I always tell to one of my dearest tamil friend whom always i have a good relation ship till now.
God bless our mother land
Hello DBS,
You can’t hide the fact that, only LTTE raised the tamils problem to the international level. Let it be loosing the war for the time being. Well done.
You just sit and think what is the difference between LTTE and Mahinda Rajapaksha.
If you can’t understand this you stop writing now onwards and concentrate on something else.
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand it.
Tamils are the only blockade for the Tamils freedom. It can fit to “Eelam” or “Federal Solutions” or any bits and pieces.
Hello DBS,
Very good article. But this is only a dream of yours as well as mine. Do you REALLY believe that Sinhala racist let your dreams to happen? Read Islands editorial today. It argues that more have to be recruited to the SL armed forces to deploy in liberated area. And you know why they want more Sinhala soldiers in Wanni. As we all know Island and Daily Mirror reflects the Sinhala racist supremacy which has been threatening the Tamils from the independence.
The Sinhalese want the Tamil should be afraid of them. It makes them happy; they enjoy their status of frightening the Tamils. Sinhala neighbors, Sinhala thugs, Sinhala police, Sinhala armed forces and Sinhala politicians- all want A feared Tamil. Because A feared Tamil makes them superior
I am one of the thousand who left the country after 1983. Before 1983 I loves Ilankai (Sri Lanka). I wanted to be patriotic Ilankaiyan. I wanted to live with Sinhala brethren. But I discovered the Sinhala brethren did not want me as Tamil brethren- but a frightened Tamil depending on their mercy. Many good Sinhalese has been boosting that they have saved many Tamils in 1983, and their fathers saved many Tamils in 1958 from the bad Sinhalese. Many good Sinhala friends have told me that Tamils do not need any political solution since they will save the Tamils in the future as they did in 1983, 1977, 1966 and 1958.
In my opinion the Sinhalese NEVER EVER ALLOW the Tamils to live with dignity and equal rights. Within 5-10 years the Tamils in Ilankai(Sri Lanka) will be like Australian aborigine. This is how I see the future of Tamil in the Sinhala Racist Republic of Sri Lanka!
DBS
Your article enunciates a clear blueprint for peace and progress in Sri Lanka, with the points stated in #12 to take the country to wards a new dawn.
DBS,
Great article. Articulates a very good blue print for all communities and Government. I think you should get this article translated to both Tamil and Sinhala and publish in the Papers in Sri Lanka and overseas. Both communities need to understand the ground realities.
Thanks
Channa
[[[[ 34. jj | May 21st, 2009 at 1:34 am
Tamils fate should be defined and acheived by Nort-East tamils ]]]
i agree fully. the diaspora who is clueless about the ground realities in sri lanka is living in a dreamland. they only know to feed on the bull turned out by the many LTTE websites for information. they cannot imagine the hardships the civilians went thru because of their beloved LTTE sponsoring & they still want to continue the violence.
their ignorance is compounded by their refusal to face reality such as the death of thalaivar & the entire LTTE leadership. nobody was spared. this has been their classic achiles heel. the refusal to face stark facts which face them squarely . very poor political vision & even worse military strategy as the debacle proves. the fighters may have done their duty. but the strategists had not.
tamils should realise the level of support & power that GOSL enjoys now. the way the western countries are silent proves it. if the LTTE diaspora tries anymore violence the GOSL will gear itself to come after the LTTE diaspora. GOSL is fully capable of it now since they have plenty of resources in reserve. The MI could make things sticky for any LTTE diaspora violence sponsors based in the west. the western diaspora is also ripe for a good splitting down the middle & dissenting voices after the inexplicable defeat of the LTTE. do not under estimate the abilities of the master splitter MR. it can work outside SL if it worked inside SL. it’ll take time but it’ll happen once the reality sinks in.
I am sure the tamils in sri lanka will have a bright future if the diaspora ceases to think of SL tamils as pawns in a hatred based murder game which they have no hope of ever winning. getting mental satisfaction out of aimless killing leads to the spiritual destruction of communities.
diaspora should leave us to live in peace & contribute to the economies of their kind western hosts instead of damaging their hosts economies as well as their own images by senseless demos which never seem to cease. some canadian reporters now openly say that diaspora behave like outsiders & not canadians even after 20 years of good living in canada.
BTW the now eastern province administration will be the political model tamils should expect in the future. no more. unlike tamils sinhala people are suspicious of their leaders by nature. no blind worshipping. that’s how they survived for so long.
at the moment MR’s popularity is sky high. but the sinhala have a very short & impatient memory. they will always fight for the survival of the sinhala race & buddhism which is unique to the island. tamil militancy does not fit in to this aspiration.
the MR popularity could suddenly plummet very fast. it depends on what MR does after recruting & sacrificing thousands of sinhala soldiers to LTTE suicide bombers & heavy artillery.
the sinhala people will always watch closely.
[[The people who thinks VP is dead!
[http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2009/5/43904_space.html?CH881242883260718&lnprnd=1242883260718&skipcache=y]
]]
If you really want to know the truth of this picture, look at the following page.
http://champika-nirosh.blogsp0t.com/2009/05/prabakaran-is-not-dead.html
The future???
The so called war heroes of the south are now considered as repulsive war criminals by the world (including the Tamil community).
The future has to deal with that first before everyone holds hands and pretends nothing happened except a military victory over the LTTE.
On top of that :
Mahinda Samarasinghe (minsister for human rights) has said on camera that not a single drop civilian blood was shed in the worlds greatest humanitarian operation – this is a blatant lie that everyone can see through. So in addition to beeing regarded as war criminals the world sees these war heroes and supporters as liars.
Even now after the so called victory, that is being celebrated with cake in the south, outside agencies are prevented from attending to the remaining injured people.
The future cannot be discussed with any meaning while ignoring the elephant in the room!
GOOD ARTICLE.
Why not make a fresh start in settlement: First the proscription of the LTTE should be lifted by Sri Lanka,followed by India and the Western countries.
If Democracy is the basis – if applicable to the so called
elected Govt. with the right to terminate Terrorism – the
22 TNA Members can serve as the startin g point -
Not a Douglas-Karuna-Pilliyan combine. When the
ground is levelled on this matter, the next General elections will produce the needed results. MR must
show more “statemanship” and not the greedy
political mentality of him and his family?
produce results
Hi DBS
Do you have any news on VP?
Excellent Article DBS!
Right message at the right time. We Sri Lankans(Tamils) have a lot to learn from our cousins in Tamil Nadu. Look, how they voted in the last elections. They did what they thought was best for their country. We need to accept that our solution will be within “one nation”. If anyone having any illusions about that some foreign government is going to perform ” a miracle”. Forget it! However harder it will be, We have to move on to the “Real world”.
If you have any illusions about, why India got involved in our struggle, please read: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/KE20Df03.html
Dear Diaspora
Please concentrate on the plight of our people in IDP camps. Whether we like it or not, they are at the mercy of GoSL. By alienating GoSL, you won’t do any favours for these people. Therefore, you will have to work with GoSL, in the best interest of these people.
PLEASE THINK!!!!!!!!!
Thanks DBSJ. This article is indeed the need of the hour.
It is unbelievable that the Tamil Diasporas are still living in hope that some LTTE leadership is still alive and the struggle would be rejuvenated.
It is understandable that many Tamil Diasporas are still in shock and in denial. Sooner we get out of the MAYAI (illusion) and get real, the better for the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
I believe that with the Singhalese polity there are two things that could happen once the current euphoria (which is understandable) is over:
1. That they accept Tamils as equals and offer and implement a political frame-work that meets the aspirations of the Tamils.
2. That they feel that the Tamil militancy was the problem which has now been eliminated and therefore, they do not have to concede anything now.
I believe and hope that there is more support for the first scenario amongst the Singhalese. However, the question is whether those who are in power have the will and courage to implement such changes.
The Tamil Diaspora should re-think and change its behavior so that the well being of the Tamils in Sri Lanka are not negatively affected!!
If the South elects scenario two, then the Tamil militancy will resurface at a later date. Tamils in Sri Lanka have neither will nor energy for any sort of struggle now!
Sir, I completely agree with you. I was one of the followers of your articles during the war and could not have missed any. If and when I wanted to know the true picture of the war I always relied on your unbiased article. I take my hats off for you and for your courage to come out with such a article at a cruecial time when you could have been labelled as a traitor.
Our country, specially the tamil community needs people like you and your contribution to the community is very much appreciated. At the moment the tamil tamil diaspora has not got a clue of the ground realities, and living in a daydream. Hope they come out of it soon, the sooner the better, for their own sake.
The war waged by a MEGALAMONIAC is over. The innocent civilians of the whole country can live in peace and harmony, let it be Sinhalese, Tamils, or Muslims.
My heartfelt thanks to you for keeping the whole world updated during the dark hours of our country.
MAY THE GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
Once again A BIG THANK YOU SIR.
For those who have lack of insight about the Diaspora,
1) Diaspora’s money is one of the Top 10 if not Top 5 external resourse for the Srilankan Foriegn Reserves which including business exports
2) It was Diaspora who is feeding their kith and kins not your Government who essentially deprived the right to Fish and farm
Please dont use this forum to write utter crap here dear April …………….DBSJ
Quote : BTW the now eastern province administration will be the political model tamils should expect in the future. no more. unlike tamils sinhala people are suspicious of their leaders by nature. no blind worshipping. that’s how they survived for so long.
What does the Eastern Province has that is more than a Municipal council ?
There cannot be any more Jokes on this site!!
Quote : at the moment MR’s popularity is sky high. but the sinhala have a very short & impatient memory. they will always fight for the survival of the sinhala race & buddhism which is unique to the island. tamil militancy does not fit in to this aspiration.
This is why the Tamils need to take care of their Affairs called Self rule.
Dear DBS
Having read your article, finally I decide to post a comment deviating from my policy of being just a silent reader.
All these years I wondered what really would take to bring this nation back to a place which will be known to the world for reasons other than terrorism. Finally it seems like we have an opportunity which we never thought would be possible 18 months ago. I couldnt have agreed wih you more the Post-war action plan you have set out. I hope and pray that MR government will show the same resolve to do what it takes to convert the military voctory to a long lasting peace.
I would like to take this an opportunity to let the tamils all over the world know that there exists a large majority of Sinhalese who are willing to share power with the minorities and be a part of a peaceful nation called Sri Lanka. Dont always judge the silent majority by the violent/extreamist minority.
Hi April,
I just thought of commenting on a few things.
I think we all should give MR a chance. I think he is quite different to the previous lot and appears to be sincere in his dealings with the tamil cause and grievances. If I may kindly ask you to hold your comments for just a couple of months? I think we all are going to be pleasantly surprised with what he is going to come out with. I think a united Sri lanka where tamils have equal rights is just months away… take care!
DBS, I was eagerly waiting for your next post. Excellent article once again. I was however hoping that you would point to some facts on the last moments of Prabhakaran’s life, since your last post was about the ‘silence’ of Pottu and Prabhakaran. Are you in the process of collecting more information or are you suspicious of something? We are waiting for an informative, neutral observation on the final moments (if there was) of Prabha’s life and you are one of the few writers who can deliver this…please do so…thanks.
So you accept that Prabha is dead.
‘The sad post-independence history of the island has been a clash of two ideas: of the Sinhala hardliners who wanted a hegemonic, Sinhala supremacist state, and the Tamil hardliners who strove for a separate state of Tamil Eelam.”
Dear DBS,
These few lines of yours seem not to fit in with what actually happened. From 1956 to about the late 1970s there was no striving for a separate state of Eelam.”
“TIGERS are the product, not the cause, of an injustice and a war that long pre-date them.”
John Pilger in NEW STATESMAN
Published 14 May 2009
They really do if you would kindly re-read and thank you for quoting Pilger but you are really trying to carry panankilangu to Yaarlpaanam……………DBSJ
very poor article, too biased towards creating the Tamil Ealam
The onus however is on the Rajapaksa dispensation. It must demonstrate clearly that it has no hidden hawkish Sinhala agenda. It must go the extra mile in making estranged Tamils feel they are once again part and parcel of the island nation
This is what i was mentioning, you might have felt part and parcel of the island nation, but i doubt the majority of other Tamils whether it is past or future. I sincerely doubt the political class in alleviating this. Already the reports of Govt affiliated paramilitaries abducting children from camps. The charges against the 3 doctors for giving false information, if that is the case the first one should be charged is MR and Co, till now they didn’t accept responsibility for single civilian death after using tonnes of ammunition. The deep rooted pride of Tamils (including me) will always keep them as second class citizens. Better practice living as second class citizens or seek asylum in Scandinavia.
49. Kannan – has just accused the aussie government of genocide or whatever. according to him while the whites have already finished the aboriginees the sri lankan govt is still at the planning stage of the genocide of tamils. so he admits that GOSL is more humane than the aussies.
but he completely forgot the new zealand maoris, the american & canadian indians, the whatever in diego garcia & tens of other tribes who were wiped out completely by the whites.
do not expect emancipation from the whites. they will always make matters worse for everybody around & take advantage to further their personal gains. for example while the diaspora must have showered billions $ on white politicians & lawyers what have they achieved for the eelam cause? zero. in fact they have led the diaspora up the garden path while taking their money & votes. they will continue to do so indefinitely until the diaspora wakes up.
if there is an opportunity & suckers around to support it the whites will always fly into action. but if ur smart they will leave u alone. that’s the white way. just look at the hundreds of other communities living in their countries. we don’t even hear about them. they may not all be happy & have their grievances. but they cannot be taken advantage of. it’s simple.
why does HR apply only in areas like SL where they don’t rule. HR does not apply when whites violate the air space & carpet bomb thousands of asians in countries like pakistan. it may seem just another innocent example. but it’s not. we have got so used to this bull that we are now immune to it. it’s just another news item.
but there is a lesson in that. the lesson is “don’t ever trust colonial whites”. today they condemn LTTE, tomorrow they condemn GOSL. for them it’s all a game of musical chairs.
while the chinese & russians are not exactly innocent u would not catch them doing this kind of duplicity in such a shameless & blatant manner. when the eastern powers are not sure about something they have a hands off policy. they also have much more consistent & focussed policies.
so if diaspora don see thru the western duplicity & really understand what’s going on they will become more & more miserable as the white politicians & lawyers take their money for further fancy exercises. expecting the west to deliver an eelam which most of the diaspora has never even seen or will never live in under a despot like thalaivar was a fantastically fancy set up for the whites. they just love & thrive on these types of confusion.
the past 25 years of white & indian involvement in the tamil struggle & their relative achivements are a classic experience for the diaspora to understand what really is going on & correct course.
let this be a lesson for all those who expect outsiders to deliver their emancipation while they stay onlookers, spending their hard earned money, watching & just waiting. they will keep on watching & waiting endlessly. end of the day they will be poorer financially as well as spiritually.
remote controlled forceful liberation never works. it has to be hands on. therefore only the SL based tamils will truly understand the meaning of liberation. they will see a much better future & be happier with new hope for the future of their children .
LTTE diaspora will always remain clueless & miserable unless they change their mindset.
Thanks a lot. Excellent article. Please continue your mission. You will face many challenges but it calls for real patriotic courage, which you have, to think with such clarity under these circumstances. If you succeed we all will win.
Whatever happens have gone. There is one plus point here. That because LTTE was banned in several Countries whatever tamil did were lokked as very suspicious or part of LTTE agenda. Now, Tamil can use the present situation for good cause. Leave the LTTE name out and move forward for the just cause of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. We can convince the countries to actively help us to get the rights of Minorities in the United SL.
Thank you for this insightful analysis of the current situation.
Like the person who posted response #63, I consider myself part of the moderate, although mostly silent, majority of Sri Lankans who is wants an equitable peace on the island.
Although I am a member of the Sinhala diaspora of Sri Lanka, I can empathise with the feelings expressed in your article regarding the unease felt by the Tamil people in the post-war scenario. A government minister was quoted as saying that ‘that he is glad that “vulgar triumphalism” has not broken out’. However, watching the state media coverage of celebrations in Sri Lanka since Sunday, my feeling is that this is a case where vulgarity is in the eye of the beholder.
Whilst it is entirely appropriate that a county acknowledge and honour the sacrifices of its armed forces over the LTTE menace faced by our people over the past 26 years, to do so with little or no acknowledgement of the sacrifice and sufferring of the people who lived through the war is insensitive and unhelpful to building a lasting peace. Personally, I don’t feel joy at the defeat of the LTTE, only relief and the glimmer of hope. Joy will only come once we resettle all those displaced by the fighting, and hold free elections under a political system that recognises the rights and aspirations of all Sri Lankans.
My hope is that my Sinhala bretheren will stop lighting firecrackers and start thinking about what has to be done to win the hearts of our Tamil brothers and sisters.
* Don’t march on the streets, but go to a place of spiritual significance to you and reflect on what is in your heart. Nuture the Loving Kindness, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy and Equanimity.
* Give what you can to help the displaced masses, helping the family of someone who died in the conflict,
* The next time you call in to a radio or TV show to express your joy at the war being over, wish peace and happiness to the Tamil people as well as giving thanks to the government and armed forces.
* Demand that your elected government to do all of the above too.
I hope that the Tamil people will be patient and give us a chance!
Thanks for a good eye-opener DBS.
As ‘majoratarian’ myself and many sinhalese have these concerns below?
My first question is how you define ‘equal rights’ ? (What is the drawing line) can you give some examples DBS ?
Second, do you think the 280k displaced people are asking for devolution of power ?
Third, how could the tamil politicos could allay fears that they would not resort to separation hereafter?
I think if we could clear these, there will be lasting peace and nation building together.
Pls pen a few thoughts. Thanks.
Dear Channa, you are an intelligent,sensitive person. Please put yourself in “Tamil shoes” and think. Also feel. I am sure you will get the answers……………….DBSJ
The people who thinks VP is dead!
[Lankanewspapers]
If you really want to know the truth of this picture, look at the following page.
#53 comment got the typo error in the link see the below link.
http://champika-nirosh.blogspot.com/2009/05/prabakaran-is-not-dead.html
I just heard on [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHeu0s5exmI] that “Prabhakarans wife Mathivathani, daughter and younger son Balachandran were found shot dead on Wednesday.” Very sad news indeed.
DBSJ we are awaiting your inimitable inside story account of Prabhakaran’s life and death
DBS not only are you a good journalist. I think you will also make a great politician!!. We tamils need somone like you who thinks outside the box.
Just to build on what you said. I personally feel we tamils need to face reality that we are a minority that is about less than 12% of Sri Lanka. Even though one time I too wanted a tamil homeland I feel from an economic point-of-view this is suicidal!!. Having singhalese in North & East is an advantage not a disadvantage.
For example if the singhalese live in the North today the government would be forced to develop the infrastructure of that area. Infrastructure is a common need for the population of that area. You cannot say we are building roads only for singhalese to travel and tamils need to walk. But when you have only tamils in one area then you can discriminate in mass. Today if singhalese were living in the North & East there is no way the govt could have done carpet bombing, could have done an economic embargo of north & east.
The next generation of tamils need to think how we can utilise global trade as a way to gain their freedom. LTTE used to say first military power, then political and finally economical. This theory was true for the 1950′s. Now its economic, then political and finally military. Singapore is a good example of that.
Regards
Ajith
DBSJ
This is a good article, but has to be developed further. It is not healthy to have a ?wish? list because it may not materialize for various reasons.
It may not be reasonable to expect even the president to make a far reaching decision on the national issue because even the President cannot speak for all the Sinhalese for all the time.
I don?t think LTTE could have achieved anything substantial to the Tamils by being more accommodative during the peace talks because anything gained under duress is temporary and short lived.
This is something like blackmail -as soon as the gun is removed the tendency is to go back on the earlier promises.
What the Sinhalese should do or what the Tamils should do is only an imaginary outcome.
History moves in a mysterious way.
Every misfortune has positive and negative aspects. When we are faced with misfortune it is not necessary to be unduly pessimistic and loose all hope.
Even misfortunes open vistas of opportunities.
A prudent man should be able to capture all opportunities and turn misfortune in the short run as fortune in the long run.
This is a good opportunity for us to look back and take stock.
We have positive and negative achievement.
The Tamils are in a similar situation as in1983. We are the oppressed people.
With the demise of LTTE all the atrocities committed by LTTE are buried with them that include murder of Rajiv Gandhi and the numerous murders of political leaders and civilians from all communities.
The Tamils are the innocent party.
The criminal atrocities of the Government still to be punished.
What is our objective?
Like after 1983 are the Tamils going on a revenge journey irrespective of the consequences to the interests of the Tamils themselves or tit for tat?
If we go behind the so called international community that had not come to our aid when we needed them most and to go for genocide trial and repeat the agony again and again.
The Tamils should understand what happened the to the 13th Amendment guaranteed by the powerful India.
After a passage of time the majority community got together and the Northern Province and the Eastern Province were demerged.
Not a single International country came to our aid!
The Tamil national struggle had gone through two distinct phases.
The first phase under Mr S.J.V.Chevanayagam using non violent means ended in failure and the second phase under Prabaharan resorting to armed struggle also ended in a disaster.
Both phases had a lot in common.
Now the third phase of this nationalistic struggle is before us.
Are we going to repeat the mistakes of the first two phases and destroy the Tamil Community once and for all.
The choice is ours.
Can Tamils think out of the box.
The parameters set by Mr Chelvanayagam may not be valid now.
Think of the Muslims and Sinhalese in the North East and The Tamils in the rest of the country.
The traditional homeland, Northeast merger, devolution, Power sharing may be concepts acceptable in a closed economy and up to 1970s.
Is it still valid in the globalised world?
Let us think for ourselves and not others think for us and set the agenda?
If attainable, Does a separate country a desirable outcome for Tamils?
A food for thought?
Thank you. Much food for thought indeed.I hope some others would think on the lines suggested by you and contribute constructively to this forum……………….DBSJ
I’m a University student and all students I meet accept there’s a need of a political solution for this. So time has changed and there’s a real good opportunity for solid solution since now all Tamils can speak for themselves without having another one dictating their voices, they should put forward some people that are not politically dehydrated to talk for them .
the silver lining of the brutal siege at NFZ was it enabled average Sinhalese to differentiate the LTTE from thamil civilian, the majority sympathized with the plight they were enduring .
The Sinhalese were expressing their relief at the end of war, rather than triumphalism over thamils , as was very much evident by absence of single hooliganism in all this chaotic celebrating.
Unfortunately the diaspora thamils are still pursuing the mirage , aptly to their given name of “lost generation”.
If there is going to be devolution it has to be conducted the same way as the war was conducted…without the scrutiny of general public…for all efforts on that were shot down due to political opportunism fueling communal hatred .
A secular society with rule of law will benefit thamils much more than any amount of political power in hands of few corrupt politicians though they are Thamil.
The president is correct in identifying the weak and backward state of the whole thamil nation i, after
the emotional trauma and severe economic hardships it is enduring and which needs more attention at this moment of nation building.. the success of the reconciliation reconstruction and rehabilitation will demarcate the degree of autonomy, they desire…not the present anguished and polarized mentality .
Between 1948 and the 70s the moderate Tamil leadership from GGP onwards proposed several alternatives. But these were rejected. The 50:50 proposal was twisted to poison the minds of even moderates Sinhalese. Remember ECB Wijesinghes hit-play with the same title? Even today many Sinhala MPs and educated among them believe GGP conspired for 50% of seats in Parliament to Tamils. If the Govt, the Buddhist hierarchy and those who can influence MRs Govt realize the future and well-being of Tamils are inextricably intertwined with that of Sri Lanka and its people then we may have the future all of us want. But there is no let in that insidious campaign to eliminate Tamils initially from the South and the Hills abductions of Tamil business persons and others continues more in support from Karuna-Pillaiyan gangs; subtle intimidation and threats
to Tamils to give up and leave: a general climate of fear to get Tamils to go to your Homeland or Canada is a virtual daily feature now. Even decent Sinhalese friends of Tamils say it is in your interest to find a more safer and peaceful place to live. While the top at the Govt preach homilies and accommodative language (I ask all Tamils who left because of the war to come back President Rajapakse) more for international consumption little is done to allay fears of the ordinary Tamil and the business community therein. If this goes on like this, the Pettah market that had a dominance of Tamil traders in the ordinary course (no engineered move or campaign to keep the Sinhala community out as it is being suggested for sometime now in Sinhala quarters) has dropped on to around 15-25% in the past decade or so. As to the LTTE, they are largely responsible for the Tamil plight of today no veedu, no ur and now no future either here or anywhere. It is time Tamils realize there is a convergence of Sinhala forces – the Buddhist hierarchy, the armed forces, the Sinhala political formation, the Buddhist Sinhala business, industrial and banking community all working almost on a central directive both to reduce Tamil numbers outside the Jaffna District and to reduce Tamil influence and presence to that similar to one that exists in Myanmar (Burma) where they were once a flourishing community until 1962. Why should MR and his Govt do anything to change this equation? After all more than 75% of the Sinhala votes to form governments come from this sector that has accepted this below-the-surface politico-economic reality. If India and the international community want to help the Tamils they must ask GoSL to provide evidence in the present and immediate future they have taken
visible action to prevent this slide against the Tamils of Sri Lanka. Just a single Rudra Rajasingham, Justice Sharvananda, Shiva Pasupathy or Kamalasabeyson in high places does not mean Tamils are all taken care of and everything is just LTTE propaganda.
Ilaya Seran Senguttuvan
Ilaya Seran Senguttuvan
tamils should
1. tell india that tamils want the north and east of srilanka to become the 26th state of india.{i believe india has at the moment 25 states. i may be wrong}
2. tell mahinda that if he offers federalism and it is accepted by the tamils of the northeast then okay.
3. if srilanka gives a lesser political solution and accepted in a referendum okay.
take whatever comes first because a bird in hand they say is worth 2 in the bush. let us move on quickly without wasting any more precious time, while the rest of the world is developing.
comment 57-ravi
VP is watching from above.
on the 17th he tried to breakthrough the 53rd div near the lagoon. unfortunately the army was tipped off a few hours before but wasnt quite ready. he nearly succeeded but the army retaliated with some thermo rockets or something that had a devastating effect and that put an end to it all.
Diaspora Tamils continue to exhibit their lack of concern for the ordinary Tamils who live in Sri Lanka. The latest fad seems to be the concern over war crimes–the decimation of the LTTE leadership by the Sri Lankan forces. How come not a single person has raised the issue of hundreds of Tamils who were shot in their legs by the LTTE for fleeing Vanni? Should not the LTTE leadership (whatever that remains) be charged for crimes against humanity as well?
Hi DBS,
I have read many of your articles and you are the only tamil writer who has many sinhala readers I believe.
Are you oppose to settling sinhalese amongst the tamils in NE??
Here is what I think.
Settling in mass scale is bad. But letting individuals settle in NE will help in the long run for a united country.
In my small village, we had 2 tamil families, 3 muslim families and 35 sinhala families. No minority family left the village but expanded. Even their kids(our friends) bought houses of sinhalese and settled. We played together. They might have felt uncomfortable during the war, but no one was hurt physically. If anyone abused them verbally, they just ignored it, and none of their neighbours supported those abuses.
If we only resettle Tamils in NE, take my word, the war will repeat another day. We need the mix and every citizen should be allowed to live where they like as long as they can afford to it. No one race should be allowed to claim this is our land and other sri lankans can’t come here. If we keep that mentality, My guess is that the, history will repeat.
Like to know your thoughts.
Suji
DBSJ RESPONDS:
I have a philosophical attitude towards land.The land is permanent. We humans are Temporary. The land remains while we move from place to place. Ultimately we die and our bodies are buried in the land or our ashes scattered in the water.
So how can we claim that land belongs to us. No it is we who belong to the land.
All of us belong to the Island called Sri Lanka. The Island does not belong to us
The upheaval caused by the war has made Tamils disperse outside Sri Lanka, outside the north – east and displaced within the north – east. These experiences would certainly bring about a change in attitude and perception
Leaving all politics aside it is impossible ARITHMETICALLY for 12% of the total population (it would be much less now) to hold on to 0ne – third of the total Sri Lankan territory and two -thirds of the coast line.
Thanks for the well written article.
For the Tamils to win back their dignity the Hard core & the Pro LTTE Tamils should allow the Tamils who have been silent because of the Gun culture to take the lead role.
Also Douglas, Karuna, Pillayan & some of the other Paramilitary should stop using the Gun & Extortions.
Currently from what I see MR & Co. wants to wipe off the Tamils. They are killing our Youth. Now that the LTTE Leaders are gone why they have to kill these who didn’t have a choice other than to join or forced to join the LTTE.
PLEASE REMEMBER THESE YOUNGE PEOPLE (ATLEAST 98%) CAME OUT BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO LIVE. EVEN THE OTHER 2% CAN BE RAHABILATED BY THE WAY THEY ARE GOING TO BE TREATED. IF GOSL TORTURE & KILL THESE PEOPLE THEN THESE PEOPLE 7 THE REST WILL THINK & SAY VP (THALAIVAR) WAS CORRECT.
IS THIS WHAT THE SINHALESE GOSL WANTS?
DBS, thanks for your dreams. There will be nothing for the tamils. MR will conduct parliamentary elections shortly followed by Presidential elections. The sinhala extremist groups in consort with the sinhala bureaucracy will start collonising the Mullaitivu area. The 200,000 tamils in army custody (by the way, why does the Govt continuously refer to “capturing” tamils form LTTE custody. Is it not “relieving” tamils form LTTE custody ?) will languish behind barbed wire “for their own protection”. MR and Co will win another term and will steal whatever wealth remaining in the country. MR and Co will now turn their barbarism towards the sinhala people in the south. They will have a fleet of white vans at their command !!!
DBS,
Thanks for your article. It seems that you say Ranil and Chandrika were positive in offering something to the Tamils. I agree with you only compared to Rajapaksa, but the next president possibly Rajapaksa would get all back?.
You don’t seem to accept the fact that LTTE has done something positive in taking our strugle to the world though they are now unwanted and created troubles to the many.
You seem to express that LTTE missed the chance in 2002 to get something from Ranil. Rani is nothing but a gentleman who has, I think, had a hidden agenda himself.
You stated what are the things the present goverment should do. I don’t think a single one will take place. They are not prepared to share / give anything to the Tamils.
The present situation in Sri lanka:
The Tamils think that if they can get enough food, a place for living and education for their kids (the basic things) because Tamils have had enough suffering from both LTTE and SL ( I do not disagree with you).
One more thing, anyone think it is acceptable to keep a woman or a man who has her/his family, husband /wife all outside working except her/he should stay still in the IDP camps?.
What a good justification of present SL to say she/he might be a tiger?. This is a true storey I knew from a friend of mine.
Ravi
Yet another quality article DBJS at the right time.
It is also very encouraging to read many positive comments by readers who are ready to move on to a new era. There is no pint in analysing on how the LTTE leaders killed and/or whether they are alive or not. It is far more important and urgent to bring the traumatised Tamils community together in Sri Lanka, and focus on the next step.
A request to DBJS – I’m looking forward to see an article on the next ‘leader’ who should take the lead in political arena for Tamils in Sri Lanka. I think it is very important. The leader faces huge challenges and should be capable of taking crucial decisions on many things. By analysing the pros and cons and capability, I believe TNA MP, R Sampanthan is the right man for this challenging role.
DBSJ RESPONDS:
Any potential or emerging “REAL ” Tamil leader will be bumped off by the sole alternative in the north or nation building warlord in the east. Blame can be put on “residual elements of LTTE”
Mr. dbsj i agree with you that tamil armed strugle achieved any thing.not only the LTTe take up arms also lot of groups with out any reason so many young boys went behind this leadership. we watch it without no future answer.they distroyed everything including public transport private property etc.after ltte only there were fredom stugle started, you accept it or not. in a freedom strugle there are good and bad expierence.
I am asking one question from EPDF,PLOT,EROSS.EPRLP and even Karuna why they took arms and ditroy the county when the rulers of the country gave everything ?
after joining with the singala governments what it they get for the tamils rather than their own profit?
did they not killed any civilians or LTTE suppoerters?
finaly what they are expecting after Prapakaran? are they trying to enter the tamil politics and leads the tamils?…… no.. they cant.. they have no ability and cabability…. because they must be punished under the law for killing ,bank roberrys,humanrights violations. TNA means under diffrent former militants group.
so the tamils need a proper leadership without any terrorist group. we need some educated and eligble people for to lead the tamis.now the goverment decide to keep election with the help of this former terrorist. we never alow them to do so.now in north or east memper cant take part to disguss with the foregin leaders. so first of all we must choose some diaspora tamil educated people who wish to work for tamils rights, then we take some tamil peoples in north east and back them to contest in futre elections. for this we need your help also.. last 26 years i am reading your articles i know your talent.
(EDITED)
As to the plight of the Tamils who are behind barbed wires now, I am of the view that since January of this year the diaspora Tamils and their representative organisations put them in peril claiming,
1. that they were willingly staying with LTTE; and
2. by not making an appeal to the LTTE to release them in any event.
Therefore the diaspora have no right to defend them now. All the best they could do now, if they really cared for this people, is to keep their BLOODY mouth shut. When time comes, the people will push the fence and will come out. Until then NGOs will take care of them.
As to the continued cry for a separate state or any other solutions, again the diaspora cannot decide what the real Sri Lankan Tamils want in their Sri Lanka. It should be left to them to decide instead of dictating terms from the west.
Right to life is paramount and all other rights are residuary. The diaspora and the LTTE never cared about the right to life of the Tamils.
Hi DBS,
Almost 20 years ago, when Cheran Rudhramurthi visited our house, he told about you.
It is nice to see your website.
Have you seen the artilcle by Shyam Tekwani?
http://nganesan.blogspot.com/2009/05/shyam-tekwani.html
Best wishes,
N. Ganesan
I agree totally with Nilambare’s comment No. 12. In addition, I would suggest that the Tamil Rehabilitaion Organisation be deproscribed by the SLGovernment so that tamil diaspora can recommence to contribute towards resettlement and rehabilitation of the 250,000 IDPs in camps and those displaced earlier by the ‘high security zones’ – the supreme court has ruled last year that this be allowed, but the government’s reluctance to commence this raises the suspicion that the IDPs too, will not be resettled soon.
Once resettlement is effected, all tamils should be allowed to pursue their former livelihoods, so that they can become financilly independent again.
Special programs for the thousands of war widows and orphans need to be commenced.
But I fear that the peacetime army will become an Army of Occupation of the northeast.
All paramilitaries too, need to be disbanded and they too will need rehabilitation.
Jayanath & Nisal!
I know this is a Photoshopped image!
Look at the posts!!! Specially the tamils! There isn’t going to be any reconciliation! except HATE!
And DBSJ…What is the Political soln?….Y can’t we live as ONE NATION & ONE COUNTRY!
Very good artical. if only ltte listen to you earlier
Hii DBS
Just a word!!!!
You and me both live in North America and we do have some kind of discreminations isnt it?? Still generaly we do not have any problem in day today matters . Why can’t we could live in Sri Lanka in same way??? as 1 nations though we speake 2 languages. I think most of Sinhalease nave have any problem with Tamils. I allways live with tamils and in my young age all my room mates are tamils and even in USA about 4 years my roome mate was tamil and then I moove to a studio which is ownd by a tamil I really dont know whether they are LTTE supporters or not as I never discussed about it with them. We respect each other and more than that we re very good friends. I think thats the way we should behave.
The Sri Lankan government should refuse to recognise any ethnic ‘homelands’ in Sri Lanka. The notion that parts of the country or the country itself belong specially to a certain group is only going to undermine ethnic harmony and the long task of nation building. A Tamil from Jaffna should feel just as home in Galle as he does in Jaffna. A Sinhalese from Galle should feel just as home in Jaffna as he does in Galle. Every inch of the country belongs to Sri Lankan citizens; Sri Lanka for Sri Lankans.
Can we please put all this ethnic crap behind us and rebuild Sri Lanka. Let’s get the development going, the factories, the resettlement, the investment. Economic growth, I believe will work wonders in soothing away ethnic tensions. Let’s reopen the the paper and chemical factories in the north and the east. Go ahead with the power plant in Trincomalee. Open up Jaffna airport to international flights. Open up the A9 to civilians and have freedom of movement from north to south and south to north. Let’s develop the tourist sites in the north and the east. Rebuild the huge salt pans there so that we will be self-sufficient in salt at least. Let the fisherman get back to their fishing. Give the Northern farmers access to the huge market in thesouth. Give the southern businessmen acess to the unreached northern one.
The whole world is developing and passing us by. Wake up Sri Lankans! This has been said many times before and sounds very cliche, but we can become the Singapore of South Asia; we now have the chance to work towards that.
And to the Tamil diaspora screaming and shouting – get over it. Prabhakaran is dead. Time to put that hatred and anger to better use. Even if you hate Sri Lanka it is still your homeland, where your ancestors were born and where they died. The Sinhalese aren’t your enemy. We will welcome you back with open arms. Now is the time to forgive and put down the cudgel. Many of you in the diaspora are well settled and well made. Pour your money into rebuilding the north and the east. Look at how much money was completely wasted on the LTTE. Reach out to the Sri Lankan government instead of stubbornly trying to take it on.
Please understand that Sri Lanka is one indivisible country. Seek your happiness and growth and prosperity within it, without trying to divide it into two. For the sake of future generations, take the end of the LTTE as the beginning of a new chapter.
“He insulted me, hit me, beat me, robbed me” — for those who brood on this, hostility isn’t stilled.
“He insulted me, hit me, beat me, robbed me” — for those who don’t brood on this, hostility is stilled.
‘Hatred does not cease by hatred; by love alone does it cease.’
– The Buddha
DBS,
Your analysis portrays you as a very naive school child, you totally seem to have disregarded the Singhalese psyche.
What’s yet to come will be worse than what Tamils ever went through in the hands of pre-war SL or even the ltte:
I predict there will be gross human rights violations against the Tamils, specially those 300,000 IDPs. The Lankan Tamil race will be wiped out at last, adhering to the wishes of every chauvinistic Sinhalese. We, the diasporas, need to act fast. We need to bring every Sinhala thug who raped and killed our innocent brothers and sisters to justice. We must act now!
Careful with the coffee. There’s too much caffeine………….DBSJ
Dear Mr.Jeyaraj
Once again you have written a very thought provoking positive piece on post war Sri Lanka. I would like to suggest whether you can add a link to share your blogposts on Facebook. it will be a great to share your articles directly via Facebook. Because most sri lankans does not have direct access to independent articles.
Thanks and regards.
Hope you get more and more strength to produce more articles
Very good article, considering the current ground reality and potential future peace in SL.
However ,GOSL not allowing ICRC and UN AID groups, is a non-starter for peace building and inhuman as well.
( Now we are talking about root cause of the problem which lead to Tamil youth rebellion)
“LTTE leaders & families wanted to surrender with a white flag
Why did they not allow child fighters and civilians to surrender in the same way?
Srikrishmoderate #79
You spoke my mind. Thank you
Well written article and good responses from many. However, very few have really touched on the plight of the the Tamils both in the war zone area and in Colombo. Are the so called Singhalese who call themselves friends of the Tamils demanding that the SLG send aid to the innocent Tamil civilians who are in the refuge camps in their own mother land? Did they make requests for the SLG to allow aid through foreign agencies to prevent the Tamils in the camps from dying from starvation? How is there going to be equality in SL if the SLG does nothing to protect the Tamils in Colombo from the Singhalese who feel that they can get away from buying stuff and not paying for them at the Tamil stores? So far has the SLG stopped the thugs from lighting firecracker and throwing into houses of Tamil in Colombo when they celebrated the victory of the LTTE? If the SLG and the SL police were just then we wouldn’t have had these problems to begin with.
These problems will only come to an end when Singhalese people stand for what is just and reach out and demand that their government treat both Tamils and Sinhalese equally as human beings. I wonder whether the Singhalese will take it up as a challenge to practise what their religious leader had taught them.
[[[ Any potential or emerging “REAL ” Tamil leader will be bumped off by the sole alternative in the north or nation building warlord in the east. Blame can be put on “residual elements of LTTE” ]]]
any future tamil leader who starts acting like thalaivar & becomes a threat to national security will be bumped off. this GOSL has shown their hand by their clinical efficiency & absolute ruthlessness.
it is possible to –
ARITHMETICALLY for tamils to hold on to 0ne – third OR EVEN MORE of the total Sri Lankan territory and two -thirds OR MORE of the coast line if the tamils in colombo & diaspora were ready to sacrifice personally for eelam instead of forcibly recruiting peasant women & kids.
after all there are 80 million or so tamils wordwide for the 17 million or so sinhala. tamil diaspora outnumber the sinhala expats in political clout, money & numbers.
that maybe the reason why the terrorist LTTE dreamed their parity with the GOSL which has 60 years of international recognition & the vast diplomatic experience. this was where the whites stepped in & took the LTTE backed diaspora on long rides. they were dropped off in the middle of nowhere everytime. but the diaspora never learned. they never questioned thalaivar’s or their white sponsors. they never set time frames & asked anybody to deliver. they just cried & played victim while bumping off their own leaders. the whites must have loved it. LTTE fund raisers, the western governments & the diaspora were all happy until 3 years ago. the whites exclusively like law & order only in their own countries. they promote & sponsor permanent discord & mayhem in others. expecting whites to bring bring justice outside their territory is like expecting pigs to grow wings & fly. therefore sri lanka was obviously a terrible shocker for these white masters. it obviously has shaken them to the bone as per their reactions.
so statiscally speaking raising an army should not have been a problem at all for LTTE. but somehow the SLA attracted thousands & thousands of new recruits while the LTTE eelamists could not. it was ironic but reflected the detachment of the worldwide tamils to eelam. it also exposed how much the tamils really trusted the killer prabhakaran. while everybody contributed $ handsomely, venerated prabhakaran & did their endless demos nobody joined. eelam was a mental status. not physical.
one could argue that the sinhala youth did it for economic reasons or better media management by the GOSL.
whatever the reason the SLDF made one hell of a payback to the GOSL & the nation for the salary they received. that’s now on record. while the LTTE cadres fought bravely they were decimated due to lack of man power. nobody can deny that. that’s a fact.
#104 Samanthi, I don’t know where you are, whether in Colombo or outside the country. There is a terrific response from both Singhalese and Muslim people in Sri Lanka towards collecting funds and resources for the IDPs. By comparison, at least in Toronto, the response from the Diaspora Tamils has been very poor. It appears that now that the war is over and there is no further use for human shields, the Diaspora has forgotten the IDPs.
DBS good one, probably for the first time I agree with some of your points.
I heard a rumor that RAW agents are contacting some of the Tamil Community leaders in Toronto for creating a possible alternative to LTTE. Us Tamils should never listen to India again, it is India which destroyed our lives. As DBS suggested we should try to work with the Sinhalese from now on. Before that Rajapaksa has to prove to us that he can be trusted, unfolding events after the war don?t seem to show him as trustworthy. Rajapaksa could well be like his predecessors, in that case we have no choice but to go with India. In anyways one thing is true, India will never let us live in peace, especially now that the Sinhalese brought the Chinese in. I think, Tamil Diaspora has a big role to play now. This time we should put aside our emotions and make rational decisions which would truly help the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
At last you agree with some of my points! Oh Thank you.Thank You……….. DBSJ
#99 timhortons, what have you been drinking man? Defiantly not coffee I can tell. You say “The Lankan Tamil race will be wiped out at last, adhering to the wishes of every chauvinistic Sinhalese.” We Singhalese have been the majority rulers of Sri Lanka for 60 years. If the Singhalese wanted to wipe off the Tamils we must have been going around doing that very inefficiently! Remember 6 million Jews in 10 years, 800 000 people in Ruwanda in 3 months. Now that is genocide. If the GOSL wanted to wipe out 300000 Tamils, why would they put the Tamils in IDP camps and feed them? They could have easily bombed and shelled them while they were in the NFZ.
You guys scream endlessly about ‘genocide” in Sri Lanka. At least for the first 30 years of the country’s independence, one of the biggest problems we had was the illegal immigration of people from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka. We even had a word for them. Remember “Kallathoni”? There were even songs written about them. So during that time Tamils from Tamil Nadu were perfectly willing to leave Mother India voluntarily where they supposedly had full rights and treated well and come and live in Sri Lanka where according to you and other propagandists there was a genocide campaign against the Tamils going on!
So timhortans, wake up and smell the coffee first!
Thank you Stephen Jones!
I will believe it when I see it.
Aren’t bhikkus the same religious leaders who burnt the flag of the country which came to negotiate peace?
Is this not the group fighting against freedom to convert to other religions? When they are this narrow minded are they capable of thinking of the well being of other who they’ve considered as their enemies for decades?
Anyway it is good to hear that they are trying to do something positive and useful. Hope it is true and lasting.
Dear DBSJ,
I commend you for a good article and agree with much of what you have said.
However, if your time permits I wish you to clarify on an idea/argument that I have seen repeated by many.
You wrote:
“If the LTTE had converted the military strength it once enjoyed into bargaining power at the negotiating table, the Sri Lankan Tamils would have been much better off. It did not and in the process has brought misery and despair to the Tamil people.”
On first read the argument “Tamils would have been much better off” seems reasonable, but I would like to explore some aspects of this argument.
+ On an issue as complex as creating a new country, Eelam, it is unwise to assume the Tamils would be better off. What if the Eelam had a dictatorship or military Junta for 25 years? What if it had continuous in-fighting and deteriorated to a ‘failed state’?
+ Who all are included in the group “Tamils” in this case? For example, are all the following Tamil groups such as the Tamils living in NE, Western province, hill country, rest of the island, Diaspora in the West, Diaspora in East Asia and Australia, and Sri Lankan Tamils in India included here? How about when you think of the Tamil sub groups on economic, education, religious, or social/class/caste terms?
+ What is “better off”? For example, better off in political terms, economic terms, social or caste and class based terms, quality of life terms? Better off compared to the quality of life before 1983, quality of life of Tamils in Colombo before 2005?
There is no doubt that some people belonging to the larger group of Tamils would have been better off with Ealam, but what evidence is there to suggest a generalization such as “Tamils would have been much better off”?
To be frank, in my opinion, it is an unwise assumption that the “better off’ could not be achieved via political and lot more peaceful means.
I also wish my fellow readers comments on this as well.
Thank you in advance.
DBSJ RESPONDS:
I have not said anything about Tamil Eelam or a separate state. “bargaining power at negotiating table” or “being better off” has nothing to do with separation or Eelam. You’ve got the wrong end of the stick.
Hi Ranjan!
Very happy to hear that the Singhalese community has a conscience.
It could be due to the lack of trust in the SLG and bad experiences in the past that the Tamil Diaspora in Canada haven’t been sending aid. During the tsunami many containers were sent through Christian organizations but never reached the people who needed them.
If they are so willing and would like and need foreign aid, why are they refusing to let international agencies help the refugees? I guess they have a lot to hide, mybe they need time to erase their atrocities to make it presentable when the foreigners arrive.
Sivaki K -Comment 90
I too believe TNA MP, R Sampanthan is the right man for this challenging role.
As DBSJ says… it is very risky job.
I personally have no faith in a unified Sri Lanka (Ceylon).
1. The Sinhalese will not accept the Tamils as their fellow citizen until they stop listing to Buddhist Monks. But, I doubt that will ever happen since MR refereed to a Homegrown solution based on Buddhism.
2. The speech about No minorities is to hide the massacre carried/still being carried out in the Vanni region.
3. SL soldiers have no respect to dead people. They humiliated dead buddies by picturing them naked and rolling them in mud and publishing them in their OFFICIAL web site. This behavior is unique to the Sinhala army personals.
4. Tamil women are taken away from IDP camps (retention) by the SLA and rapped, murdered and buried.
5. There are deep scars in each and every Tamil person in the IDP camps. They have lost their sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and relatives to war. There will be no forgiveness to what MR done for the Tamil people. He should be punished (by law).
6. Sinhalese has every reason to celebrate this victory after eliminating the LTTE and killing tens of thousand of civilians, but the Tamils will carry this pain…
The struggle for Eelam will continue, may be this time it wont be a violence one…
Hi DBSJ,
You are true Tamil Nationalist. It is not a bad word. We are not Tamil Chauvinists. You have lot of respect from all communities. I do know, as a journalist you writings always accurate. They are not fabricated.
I really think you have a crucial role to play in the post conflict reconstruction work. Lot of people already expressed this in their writings.
Your words carry lot of value than the guns carried by LTTE.
Perhaps, in an advisory level you can contribute.
DBS, you all ways come out with very sensible articles. I agree 100% with you thoughts. We Tamils should put back the past and march toward the future. This is very possible provided the Sri Lankan government and the top policy makers are sincere and genuine in this effort. If Mahinda and his government has some hidden agenda for the Tamils like what he did after East was taken over by the armed forces. First thing he did was to separate the East from the North. (this was against the agreement Rajeev Gandhi had with Jayewardene government). Like wise he will try to weaken the Tamils by breaking them in to small groups and parties so that we will have to live for ever under his jackboots. We have to be under their mercy all the time. There are some among us like Denanada. Anandasangari and Karuna, who are willing to ignore the rights and liberty of our people provided they are well looked after by the government. This bunch of cliques are even willing to deny their own community in order to make their personal lives rewarding and prosperous. If MR, can prove to the Tamils that he does not have any hidden agenda and not going to dance to the tune of the Sinhala extremist and yellow robes, then there is some hope for us. We Tamils should have an alternative plan as well. We have been cheated by the successive Sri Lankan governments for the last 50 years, therefore we should not take a chances again. We should have the plan B in case the rulers are not going implement the plan A as widely covered in DBJ’s article. Only time will tell which direction we are heading for.
111. Shamanthi
is dashing buddha statues OK? sri lanka is the last bastion of therawada buddhism in this area. what u expect the buddhist prests to do? meditate & give in while these illegal missionaries go about spreading blasphemy & dashing buddha statues to pieces? they are even a threat to the conventional catholics & christians.
how do u think the buddhists who are the overwhelming minority in the region survive for 2,300 years?
In response to jj’s comment: You said
“Tamils fate should be defined and acheived by Nort-East tamils”
Arent we there right now? Where do you wnat to take us from here? I demand you to wake up to the REAL world.
Whose made that comment? What are you talking about? ……………….DBSJ
Hi Ranjan,
Responding to what you said to #99: I GUESS YOU ARE STILL IN DENIAL LIKE THE MAJORITY OF SINGHALESE. “You can take the horse to the water but you can’t make it drink. You CANNOT cure those who pretend to be blind when they have perfect vision. Or is it like selective amnesia?
I guess all talk about the Singhalese sending aid and funding was hearsay on your part, since you seem to be from Canada. Did you personally deliver materials? I doubt it!!
[[[ 79. Sri krishModerate | May 21st, 2009 at 7:02 am
The Tamil national struggle had gone through two distinct phases.
The first phase under Mr S.J.V.Chevanayagam using non violent means ended in failure and the second phase under Prabaharan resorting to armed struggle also ended in a disaster. ]]]
u forgot the first phase where Mr S.J.V.Chevanayagam asked for 50% representation for 20% of tamils.he did not even consult the sinhala. he asked the british. the british promptly shot it down even without consideration. it went completely against their grain. the british maybe colonial & divided to rule. but they knew where to draw the line.
chelva expected the sinhala to be non violent & take it lying down. he obviously had not read history. the seeds of suspicion & hatred were sown very liberally. 1956 was a manifestation of that.
another thing that sinhala & tamils must understand is that this is a 2,500 year old historical enmity. a classic cobra mongoose situation. not something new or created by british colonisation. sure, the british made it much worse. they are still trying.
therefore there is absolutely no permanent solution that will satisfy both parties. talk of a permanent solution is just hyperbole & double speak. the only true solution is to manage any relevant situation efficiently without bloodshed. only leaders with vision can do that. not leaders who envisage & work towards unfair, violent & unattainable dreams.
sinhala will never give up a part of sri lanka. they feel threatened because they have nowhere else to go. where can the sinhala & muslims go to get help if at any future date another prabhakaran is born in a federal jaffna region & decides to have more than his fair share? like chelva another 50% – 50% maybe? upcountry for instance?
if a future prabhakaran really turns on the heat on a future ranil & when the claymores start can the sinhala escape to south india by boat as refugees? can the sinhala expect vaiko’s & ramdoss’s descendants to give them a good reception? what if there is a hostile indian government controlled by south indian politicians? maybe even a south indian PM? where can the sinhala expect help from? bengal? the sinhala buddhists are stuck in sri lanka & are fighting for their very survival. in my opinion it’s a miracle they survived for thousands of years. specially the last 30. either they are exceptionally smart or the LTTE exceptionally dumb.
economic development for all communities is the only lasting solution. all other solutions conjured up by divisive politicians & rabble rousers are all temporary, dangerous & useless.
Shanthi,
What do you mean by dashing statues? Did they break them and throw them away?
I believe that people should be given the freedom of choice to listen to and decide their faith. It should not be something dictated by of forced upon by other people. Just like you have the freedom to express your opinion via email today. Would you accept it if someone said you can only respond to emails chosen by them?
“how do u think the buddhists who are the overwhelming minority in the region survive for 2,300 years?” Are you suggesting that they’ve always resorted to violent means to get their message across and to keep their faith alive?
Well written, once again Mr Jeyaraj. I honestly hope you could take part in the reconciliation process. Had the self proclaimed “Sun God” listened to people like you the conflict would not have ended this way. It remains to be seen what Mr Rajapakse has to offer. I agree that it has to be more than 13th amendment.
As for some in the tamil diaspora, I also hope you show the same generosity towards IDP’s in the same manner you funded LTTE terrorists. If only those millons of dollars, euros, pounds had gone to these civilians.
————————————————————————————————————————–
There was one Wijayaweera and there was one Pirabakaran…NO MORE…
“They that take the sword shall perish with the sword”
————————————————————————————————————————–
Dear Friends
THIS IS NOT A BLUE PRINT. I consider this to be a purple print only because this article seems to be missing a lot of important points.
First it has to get to the light blue print stage before it can be regarded as a blue print (referring to commenter #1)
Nevertheless, DBSJ is one of the positive writers that I have seen, I must admit. This article (if you agree) can be nothing but a high hick for those who want peace and love in Sri Lanka. DBSJ’s record shows his ability to capture the minds of moderate thinkers.
ALL IS GOOD BUT WHAT IS MISSING?
Trust & initiative?…Read on..
In my view, its all about building the trust in between communities (Srilankan born) both locally and internationally, after all this is what has been absent ever since Sri Lanka is freed from the British. In fact, it is a single significant entity that should be also be our no.1 priority if we want to achieve anything that has been suggested in this article. The results has the power of healing (to some extent) for those who suffered horrendously, thus building the trust and bridging the gab.
SO THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME…..
Stop celebrating the military victory, instead go to the IDP camps and show your initiate to reach out to those who suffered tremendously….This is the right time…..
Stop supporting the LTTE or its allies, instead join the pro Democrats and moderate Sri Lankan community to put further pressure on the leaders (from both side) to do good for Sri Lanka’s future….This is the right time….
Stop degrading but respect all the fallen soldiers on both sides which will bring again healing to that family who have been affected. I KNOW, most of us wouldn’t understand the pain of a losing loved ones in this case unless you’ve bee through. Again…this is the right time……
PUT A STOP to human suffering, simple as that.
Stop collecting money for LTTE’s future operations (if any) instead pour out your support and provide whatever it takes to rebuild the future and the welfare of the damaged community irrespective of their race or religion.
Stop Recruiting more Soldiers, instead reach out to the residual LTTE fighters (don’t kill them but rehabilitate them like Russia did to Chechnyan rebels) who are left to wonder with no real purpose. This is the right time.
since we only care about the civilians, the first things forward should concentrate on bringing those who were responsible for committing crimes again humanity. Letting war criminals (from both side) off the hook i s equal to lifting the ban on LTTE and allowing them to regroup and carry out more attacks (for an example).
If the WAR is over, SRI LANKA must FREE of State terrorism also….This is the right time.
If Sri Lanka is FREE of brutal LTTE terrorism, it must also FREE of Buddhist extremism …. This is the right time.
There could be more but to list few (IN MY OWN OPINION ONLY)….but all I know is that..
THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE A DIFFERENT.
Peace
Well said, Government will do well to work with moderate people amongst both Tamil and Sinhala speaking Sri Lankans to come at a lasting solution to the problems.
I believe the main reason for this arm struggles we have seen in Sri Lanka were the economic hardships. Not only Tamils, Sinhalese also took arms twice since independence against the government. However Tamils’ arm struggle was also arose from discrimination against them..! (I personally believe this ethnic divide was created by British who discriminated against Sinhalese during their rule and then our politicians of both sides aggravated it with their short sited policies)
I sincerely don’t think that Sinhala speaking people will be against a substantial power sharing deal for North and East as well as rest of the provinces.
At the same time Diaspora should be focusing on supporting their people in any ways they can to build their lives and not in reigniting hatred amongst people from different ethnicities.
The80Factor
Well said
Dear Jeyaraj,
Thank you for an excellent, thought provoking analytical article. If the LTTE has accepted the Indo-Lanka accord, I am sure Indian government could have ended up quarelling with the Sri Lankan government instead of the LTTE. I don’t think the leaders of both major parties UNP and SLFP will ever agree on any meaninful concessions to Tamils.
LTTE was undoubtedly a highly organized strong fighting force that confronted the government forces, for many years, with considerable skill and efficiency. However, they have always lacked the necessary diplomatic skills to translate their military strength to positive gains in the political arena. The situation became even worse after the demise of Anton Balasingam. They started fighting for thr right reasons and somewhere along the line, they lost track of the purpose of the struggle.
Looking at Mahinda’s records before he became prsident, he seems to be a reasonable person. But the alligiances he assembled to annihilate the LTTE is not going to allow him to give any concessions to Tamils. He has to call for an election and realign himself with reasonable people for both Tamils and Sinhalese to live as the children of the same mother.
F reedom Fighters – You can fight for freedom from foreign invaders or from apartheid oppressors like Mandela did in South Africa, you can also fight for freedom through political channels, but when you take up arms against a state that is an act of treason. When you use ethnic cleansing, genocide and mass-murder through indiscriminate bombings of civilian targets; that is usually regarded as acts of terrorism.
NOWHERE in the world have FREEDOM FIGHTERS, claiming to be the SOLE REPRESENTATIVE and SAVIOUR of its people, KILLED MORE of its OWN PEOPLE than the ENEMY. The LTTE have!
I suspect they’re probably different ones. Believe it or not you get bhikkus in all shapes and sizes, just as you get Tamils and Sinhalese in all shapes and sizes.
It is not the time for talking about solutions. If Sinhalese and Indians can say they finally got justice by killing VP, but care nothing about the thousands of innocents killed and maimed in the process, should that be allowed to stand?
First things first–let there be a serious war crimes investigation; let there be justice for the murdered and maimed.
This trampling of individual rights–the assertion that states can do whatever they want with innocent individual lives just so that some majority or whoever is more powerful at a certain time can feel happy and satisfied about their own ‘justice’ against a terrorist group–cannot be allowed to stand. Allowing that to stand will motivate many victims to take the drastic option when the opportunity presents itself. If I were a direct victim and had the means, I would even want to think of the ‘N’ option against Colombo; why not?
The only way a peaceful solution can be found ( and I don’t care whether that is a Federal system or 13th amendment plus, or simply equal rights in a united country) is to first bring the war criminals, starting with Rajapaksas at the top, to justice. Whether it takes war crimes tribunals or bounty hunters or some other way doesn’t matter. Then, let a new regime show the Tamil people they will have the same rights as the majority and their physical security will be respected. This will take a long time but the assumption that Tamils should meekly submit themselves to the state that has just slaughtered their kith and kin by the thousands is ludicrous.
Until such justice is ensured, moderate Tamils should simply focus on alleviating the suffering of the maimed and the IDPs at the internment camps. That might require some minimal interaction with the regime, despite its status as a terrorist state that committed unimaginable war crimes. But never forget about justice, however long it may take.
121. shanthi krish
Please get your facts right. S.J.V.Chevanayagam did not ask for 50:50. It was GG Ponnambalam.
Further you said “Chelva expected the sinhala to be non violent & take it lying down. He obviously had not read history”. You must be kidding. S.J.V C had not read the history, then who read the history?
S.J.V C believed in non-violent approach couple with the international pressure mainly backing from India to find federal solution. Now, we all realised our armed struggle made the situation worse for all of us and best way forward is negotiation with IC backing.
You are very ignorant to say “S J V C had not read history”.
It is you had not read the history.
121. shanthi krish
Please get your facts right. S.J.V.Chevanayagam did not ask for 50:50. It was GG Ponnambalam.
Further you said Chelva expected the sinhala to be non violent & take it lying down. He obviously had not read history. You must be kidding. S.J.V C had not read the history, then who read the history?
S.J.V C believed in non-violent approach couple with the international pressure mainly backing from India to find federal solution. Now, we all realised our armed struggle made the situation worse for all of us and best way forward is negotiation with IC backing.
You are very ignorant to say S J V C had not read history.
It is you had not read the history.
We are once again getting into this belief that somebody will solve our problems. These other nations ‘s only concern is their stuid geo political advantages. Some of us believed in Iindia.They showed thier true colours in late eighties. Now they beleive in Western countries.
We have to take our struggle in our own hands to find a solution whether it is federal or separate.
Only LTTE understood the above.
People are saying under LTTE people suffered.
Only their crime was to create a tamil society without corruption, caste and other injustices which inherited from our Tamil Nadu connection. If you closely look at all anti-LTTE people you can understand
Time will show us what sort of life we are going to have without LTTE.
Then our struggle will reinvent again in a political or militant form.
Comment #121/Shanthi Krist said:
“Therefore there is absolutely no permanent solution that will satisfy both parties. talk of a permanent solution is just hyperbole & double speak. the only true solution is to manage any relevant situation efficiently without bloodshed. only leaders with vision can do that. not leaders who envisage & work towards unfair, violent & unattainable dreams.”
I agree. I have been going around various web sites requesting to forward me a copy or give me a reference of a “proposal” of a solution which clearly articulates the status of Tamils living outside North and East. Couldn’t find one yet – will anyone oblige please?
If someone can confirm that Velu’s son Pirapa is dead, that would be the most happiest moment for me in my life. DBS, pls pls tell us what happened.
It does not matter now whether he is alive or not. But his death is important to all the peace loving and law abiding Sri Lankan Tamils.
To make race, caste, religion immaterial Rajapaksa ‘The People’s King” must start at home. Let the great King allow his three sons the princes marry three brides chosen from the Tamil, Burgher and Muslim Communities. Let the elder prince choose a fecthing lass from the former feifdom of Jaffna. The Naval Prince to choose a lovely Burgher from to suit his Nautical lifestyle. And the younger prince to choose a pious muslim enchantress from akurana’s moorish descendants of the mercenaries who fought for the kandyan kingdom. .
This is the best and most practical analysis I’ve read.
The LTTE supporters will drive MR to rely on the JHUs and JVPs if they do not take a practical recociliatory stand. I think that MR will develop the N &E economically but my fear is that he may not go beyond that. It is now that the Tamil people should support him and win their rights democratically. Many of us will support that stand
I wish MR should take you as an advisor.
Flawed governance by all successive SLG since independence gave birth to two JVP uprise and one Tamil youth uprise( ltte,plot,telo etc) and they themselves gone flawed as well. Now, as usual flawed SLG prevailed. We Sri lankans should be really desperate to expect the flawed SLG to fix the problem and reconciliation. It does not sound logical. I am happy to be wrong, in desperation.
“I suspect theyre probably different ones. Believe it or not you get bhikkus in all shapes and sizes, just as you get Tamils and Sinhalese in all shapes and sizes.”
Had you not written this, I would have thought that all bhikkus, Tamils and Singhalese looked identical. Wow! You sure got the message and are really smart.
Happy Birth Day DBS.
Thank You very much…………DBSJ
Hi Samanthi
You have asked me several questions and I will try to respond. First of all, have I personally delivered aid to IDP camps? No definitely not, but I have done my part, both from Canada and in Sri Lanka where other people have acted on my behalf.
Yes I also know perfectly that you can not make a horse drink water. At this point only horses that refuse to drink appear to be the ones that are in Diaspora. I have faith that the local horses, if led to the water, will drink. So basically there is no need of the horses from Diaspora. Let the horse in Sri Lanka drink as much as they like.
You have asked why the government is refusing international agencies into the IDP camps. Because given the past experiences, the government has no faith in INGOs. You talk about tsunami aid. Millions of dollars and tons of material were sent to the LTTE areas by the INGOs after the tsunami. As the army advanced in to the LTTE areas revealed, is there a shred of evidence that these were used in Tsunami related activities? However, one wonders what really were in those containers which passed through Colombo port with out inspection at the request of INGOs after the tsunami. How did the LTTE aircraft get into the LTTE areas? They were taken in as Tsunami aid. How come that pretty much all the heavy earth moving equipment that the INGOs had in the LTTE areas ended up in the LTTE hands building defense fortifications? Where did the all of the foreign aid that were supposed to build fishing boats after the tsunami go? They ended up building suicide boats and submarines for the LTTE. The only place where there was evidence of any tsunami related buildings was in Karaimulli Vaikkal Tsunami village. Even these houses were occupied by the families of the LTTE leadership. So given all these is it surprising that the government would not want any INGOs anywhere near the IDP camps?
I am pretty sure that International Aid Agencies will be allowed access to the IDPs soon. In fact some INGOs are already there. The Toronto Star newspaper the other day had quoted Canadian aid workers with Care Canada, reporting right from the IDP camps. However, as the GOSL amply demonstrated, the time that Western countries and Western Aid Agencies dictated terms to Sri Lanka is gone. I am not a supporter of this government and I have lot of problems with this government on how the war was conducted and how the media has been treated. However, I can not but express my admiration that at least we have a leader who has the guts to stand up and do what he thought had to be done in the face of the UN, Aid Agencies and the hypocrisy of the West who preach to Sri Lanka while bombing the hell out of Gaza, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. I will be a lifelong supporter of Mahinda Rajapaksha if he also has the guts to come up with an equitable political solution that recognize the rights of all races and faiths to live free in Sri Lanka. Will that happen? I don’t know, I can only hope because the alternative is much of the same as the last thirty years and that is some thing that I can not even contemplate.
I feel relieved.
The braveheart-journalist DBSJ now can write as his heart wishes since he need not worry about LTTE.
As for myself I hide behind the pseudonyms since I am not brave enough.
As one commentry wrote you are the only writer with tamil origin who has a large number of sinhala readers.
If we are to make good of the sacrifices made by both sinhala and tamil fighters, we must make SriLanka the land where everyone is equal and enjoys equal rights.
That will not happen overnight. It has to be nutured to a point, you look at someone and you see a human being not a tamil or a sinhalese.
You can call me a dreamer but I am not the only one.
The political leadership, both tamil and sinhalese must establish the conditions condusive for that to happen.
Presently the division is at the peak due to the tamil distrust on the sinhala majority, which is quite understandable.
The previous governments and the LTTE had been precursers for this.
Creating a seperate state for the tamils would have been the solution, only problem would be its close proximity to the sinhala land. There would never be any peace as everyone dreamed. The problems would rather be compounded and eventually the sinhala land would have disappeared.
Given the current ground situation it would be for our best to come up with a compromise.
God bless SriLanka!!!
Comment 121 Shanthi Krish
Shanthi,
It was G.G Ponnambalam and not Chelvanayagam who raised the 50-50cry.
it was not 50 seats for Sinhalese and 50seats for Tamils.It was 50% for the majority Community and the balance 50% for all other minority Communities.
It was a solution proposed under unitary constitution as a safe guard against minority discrimination.
At that time the percentage of minorities in the population was rather high.
Under multi parti democracy pluralism is encouraged and every political party and even individuals have rights to submit different proposals irrespective of acceptability.
That is what a vibrant democracy is all about. As long as you don’t advocate violence and breach any laws of the land, sky is the limit!
The proposal was defeated and what did GGPdo after that.
He participated as a minister in the first independent Government of first DS Senanaike then Dudly Senanaike and after that Sir John Kotalewale until he was kicked out for some non communal reasons and during this period GGP was claiming that that it was due to his efforts that Section 29 was included in the Soulbury Constitution as a safeguard to the minorities and and due to this section and parity of status for Tamils and Sinhala prevalent at this time supported by almost all political paerties Tamil were living throughout the country as proud citizens.
Shanthi What is wrong?
Mr Chelvanayagam was conducting non violent protest campaign against what be believed to be unjust laws and he expected the Sinhala people an hairs to a great Buddhist Heritage to be non violent
Shanthi What is wrong?
Shanthi Can you name any human beings or living organisms to remain passive when faced with threats for there mere existence?
Sri Krish
Dear Jay,
Thank you for a well written article once again, I agree with your Thoughts on the current situation,
I am sure that you will write about the final hours of the LTTE leadership in the days to come. with all your contacts all over the Island you would be perhaps the best person to write about the final chapter of the military confrontation which took place in Mullaitivu.
If you Have not thought about it please do.
All the Best.
DBS Anna you ideas are well intended – But, do you think that Mahinda would be able to implement them.
The signs were not good in his speech the other day:
1. ‘Home grown solution’ – means no Indian intervention. APC based, majority imposed solution.
2. ‘No minorities’ – means there are no problems in this country at all.
3. ‘Patriotism’ – means people should subjugate to the majoritarion rule. Others are ‘Traitors’ !
4. Tamil Diaspora Return Home – means ‘White van, is waiting for you at the airport – bring cash only!
Sorry DBS anna I don’t see any hope in Mahinda. Even if he tries something there will be a ‘sofron wearing’ sinhala patriot to shoot him dead and the ‘pact’ torn apart.
We have been through all this before..
You talk as if there are so many great choices available before Tamils…………..DBSJ
Here are some things to which the Sri Lankan Govt should pay heed:
1. should guarantee there is no discrimination when it comes to jobs. Ensure this by providing for Tamil representation in Govt jobs in Colombo (the Centre, if you will; more important than regional level jobs). As of now, all jobs require the knowledge of Sinhalese; a major detriment to those with only Tamil knowledge at this juncture (however, see point 2).
Job discrimination manifests itself in ways we don’t readily see. I have personally known 2 people who worked in two separate organizations where they were the only single Tamil. A ratio of 100:1 is not accidental!
2. provide for facilities for Tamils to learn Sinhalese while Sinhalese learn Tamil. This cross training is very important for all. Of course, do not force the Sinhalese living in Sinhala majority areas to learn Tamil – this is unnecessary. Just the option should be provided. Some Sinhala only schools I hear have already started teaching Tamil (even before the war ended).
3. make English the official language of Business. If everyone knew a neutral medium to converse in the workplace, we won’t have this many issues. Of course, implementing this will take 20 years, but you have to start somewhere.
4. include some Tamil academics (not those who taught Tamil, but those professionals whose language happens to be Tamil) in the dialogue for a future framework for Sri Lanka. The current crop of ex-militia is not a good representation of Tamils as a whole.
5. keep India out of lanka as much as possible; this too would take time (perhaps a decade), since they have already setup camp in SL, but we should start working towards it. India’s Centre is always looking after its Central interest – couldn’t care less about the regional language. RAW has achieved its goal – please leave us alone now. As one Sinhalese man told me once, “we have already sold half our country to India”.
6. Provide Fast-Track courts to cut the backlog. Without a functioning court system, no democracy can function and no anti-discrimination law can be implemented. As of now, it takes 10 years to even be heard in a court of law, leave alone solve the issue.
Now that, dear sir, is a start.
Good luck to Sri Lanka. Let’s hope for a speedy recovery.
-a
Refer to comment 6
Please stop talking about come back and fight again.
We had enough suffering already, you people wrongly
believed LTTE as your saviour, Praba as your God father
and the world was at his feet. Read more and more good articles and definitely you will see the changes yourself and you will become a better person.
Any solution should be implemented with the sole consent of Sri Lankan citizens, tamils, sinhalese and muslims in sri Lanka.
Diaspora demands, critics, and comments should be ignored. THey have no interest in sri lankan affairs unless they obtain dual citizenship.
Lets move to a new dimention, Sri Lanka is for sri lankan citizens, we should not make it a playground for tamil diapora.
You better keep away from sri lanka.
143. Sri krish ,
OK it was ponnambalam. but the seeds of distrust had been sown.
No minority has the right to impose on the majority artificial quotas on ANYTHING. Period.
Trying to cover up dictatorial agendas with excuses & fancy terms like “multi parti democracy pluralism” makes it laughable. If he was so concerned about “multi parti democracy pluralism” why didn’t he consult the majority sinhala leaders? Consultation is the heart of democracy. you contradict urself hopelessly.
Ponnambalam had shown his hand hastily & prematurely. If he expected any respect from the sinhala polity after that he was sadly mistaken. In the book of the sinhala he was a communalist who was out to discriminate against the sinhala. He had made his indelible mark. Even if he suddenly floated on air & started shining the sinhala would not have looked at him. Your arguments can never change that. It’s a part of the history of war torn sri lanka.
This is exactly the type of communal proposal that would ENSURE sinhala discrimination of tamils after independence. Ponnambalam was no fool. If you think that ponnambalam expected a rosy, non violent future for tamils in sri lanka after that proposal you should seriously start believing in the tooth fairy. Discrimination was exactly what ponnambalam wanted. He probably wanted to be the champion of tamils & gain recognition & cheap popularity over the tamil voters.
Therefore the argument that it was proposed to avoid minority descrimination makes no sense. It was a brash acknowledgement of the total distrust he had about the sinhala. Why should the sinhala leaders receprocate to this kind of distrust & brash insult in a cordial manner? What about their self respect? Then the sinhala can argue that the 1956 sinhala only act was designed to safeguard the majority & that the tamils should accept it as reasonable. Would you? I thought so.
Ponnambalam’s 50% proposal to the british bears an uncanny resemblance to thalaivar pre-emptively bumping off potential leadership threats to him very early. Although ponnambalam may have been non violent personally he saw to it that the sinhala & tamils never got along after independence. Thalaivar was ponnambalam’s violent half. So in my opinion both halves have married & completed their missions just now. One spouse was non violent whie the other was unbelievably violentl. Amirthalingam, another non violent politician was the match maker. He held the marriage ceremony of ponnambalam & thalaivar at vadukoddai. later thalaivar killed the match maker.
all three have left this world leaving their children destitute & apparently with no future.
Well not exactly. While the physically detached & mentally LTTE diaspora will remain miserable & continue agitating indefinitely, the sri lankan sinhala, tamils, muslims, malays & burghers who really faced the horrible agony for 30 years will be a much relieved & happier lot in the future. That’s guaranteed.
that’s also my sincere hope & wish.
Dear Sinhala friends,
I am a tamil and want to be patriotic Sri Lankan as you are.
1:
Please tell me how should I interpret General Fonsekas comment:
“I strongly believe that this country belongs to the Sinhalese…”
2:
Should I hoeist the Lion flag in my house?
3:
Should I accept Karuna, Douglas, Pillaiyan adn Sangaree as my political leaders?
What really happened in the last few hours in the “safe zone”?
Look forward to hearing it.
While I have not much hope of the govt ‘s plans I am willing to give it one more chance unfortunately most diaspora tamils are not I appeal to them to let those who live in Sri Lanka live in peace
Lots of people talk about Tamil Discrimination in Sri Lanka. When asked to elaborate no one can do so, as obviously there is no such discrimination. I live in Australia. As a Sri Lankan Australian I face much more discrimination here. I feel like a 2nd class citizens most times. But Tamils in Sri Lanka flourishes, especially business and professional wise. Lots of top doctors are Tamil. Look at all the top companies – the board of directors comprise of largely Tamils. Sinhalese patronise the Tamils, it is the Tamils who chased Sinhalese away from the North and East.
Every thing will be fine, happly ever after.
This article makes the people in Europe and India who devided the land in to linguistic based territories, like Germany, France etc and Tamilnadu, Kerala, etc idiods.
Dear DBSJ,
I agree with you strongly. MR can pass any law currently without any backlash form the Sinhala people.
If MR has the right ideas as you have suggested he should call for parliment elections and get the majority he requires to pass any legislation without oppisition from the likes of JHU and JVP. I belive MR can get this majority and do so if he has the right ideas.
MR has the power to do this and he should.
134. Sam
In the four pacts signed – some sort of Federalism under a unitary state – the tamils outside the N-E do not come up as they do not have a problem, as they have either learnt Sinhala or English and co-exist peacefully (at most times).
Implementation of any of these pacts does not mean Tamils or Sinhalese cannot live elsewhere. Same as a Texan can live in Seattle, or a Bengalee can live in Gujarat.
Most people think people have to be uprooted. It is not the case. Remember many Sinhalese & Tamils have inter married.
138. Fran
I too am not optimistic that GoSL can find any lasting solutions, simply because some one will take turns to stop it – UNP / SLFP / JHU / JVP / Monks etc etc.. as it happened in the last four times – Banda-Chelva, Dudley-Chelva, JR-Rajiv, Ranil-Norway pacts.
Why should there be any concessions anyway? GoSL are the Victors, the vanquished can go to hell (or the Welfare Centres). Our President has spoken (repeatedly in Tamil, he even opened his addressed in Tamil). The only thing left to do is to go and kiss some Tamil babies in the Welfare Centres and proclaim the reign of Dutugemunu II.
Any guesses where the monument to Elara II is going to be?
Chemmani perhaps?
I think I owe a clarification here:in my comment (number 119) I was referring to comment number 34 made by ‘jj’ and did not refer to DBSJ when I wrote ‘You said’. i.e. I was addressing jj in saying that we are already reaping the fruits of few N&E Tamils arrogantly taking the fate of all SL Tamils’ fate in to their hands and choosing to be our self proclaimed sole representatives with no checks and balances in place to question their actions.
I will try to make better sense next time. However, if i were to comment about DBSJ’s work – ‘excellent’ is how I would describe it in one word.
Panangkottai Thamizan
152. Lucky Aponso
“/Lots of people talk about Tamil Discrimination in Sri Lanka. When asked to elaborate no one can do so, as obviously there is no such discrimination. “/
I can elaborate them for you:
1. Tamil girls are being taken by the SLA soldiers and rapped and buried.
2. Tamils in the South goes through extensive checking and taken away in White wan.
3. Journalists talked supportive to Tamils cause, are murdered by MR & Co. There are no arrests yet…
4. SLA asked the Civilians to go into the Safety Zone and targeted and killed them only because they were Tamils.
5. Dead bodies of Tamils civilians and LTTE are being humiliated by SLA soldiers and posted naked pictures in SL official site (defence.lk, army.lk)
6. Tamils are put in Retention Camps and not allowed to talk to the media..
7. How will the SL state have reacted if 8,000 of Sinhalese killed in cross fighting?
8. Need more…. let me know….
Even if MR or any Sinhala leaders want to give peace a chance by “accommodating” Tamil’s rights, there people who made the following comments are waiting in line behind Somarama Thero.
“No minority has the right to impose on the majority artificial quotas on ANYTHING. Period.”
“?I strongly believe that this country belongs to the Sinhalese??
It took nearly half a century for the USA to think two state solutions to Palestine struggle as we may see USA is proposing two state solutions under Obama leadership.
That does not mean we should have two state solutions here.
There are great suggestion about global village, globalization of economy and why we need to have majority and minority complex in this forum.
The fundamental problem that instigated the Tamil militancy is not the failure of 50/50 or the need of language right.
Those have fuelled the sentiments of Tamil Nationalism but those are not the root cause that initiated.
The root cause was that Tamil speaking men and women felt that their safety ( simple physical safety) is not constitutionally guarded by the law and order apparatus.
It was 1958 pogrom that made the Tamil felt insecure in the Island and are living with fear. The Volcano exploded after the GoSL?s response to the LTTE attack on 13 soldiers. Even the people suppose to be guarded behind bars were not protected in Jail. Simply they answered ?the Minority provoked us?
The events unfolded at the final day of Tamilarachi ( Tamil Research) conference in 1972 and the killing of seven unarmed youths by the Srilankan Police pushed many more youth to seek insurgency. A feeling to hit back ( it was nicely written by Mr. Raman as Prabhakaran made “meek and mild” Tamils stand up and fight for their rights. The same group of youth thought Late Jaffna Mayor Alfred Dhuraiappa being the Mayor and SLFP member should take responsibility for the killing of the Youths and took the law into their hands.
Since 1977, it was the law and order machine in the Northeast that broke the law and order.
Unless and until, Tamils feel secure, without the fear of being abducted by White van, burned alive by some thugs while supervised by the local Police or Raped by a Srilankan Soldier, the thought and need of a secured homeland will never go away.
In US, even the minority of the Minority in the social structure such as Gays and lesbians fought and won their right to marry in many states. This is because their right to choose the partner is guaranteed in the state they live (not all the states as some have still not recognized).
In contrast, Srilanka is trying to impose a law against the right to choose the religion which they try to blame on Missionaries.
In a country where a Law abiding Citizen ( Lasantha Wicramanayake)was brutally killed in a busy intersection and many months have passed still no clue ( per the Law and order machine) while a convicts ( Mervin Silva) is occupying the Law maker seat, a double murder convicts was pardoned by the President while an innocent Journalist was kept in a Jail without charges, the prospects of Reconciliation is nothing but a day dream.
Those bleak prospects can only be brighten when the ruling polity accept that there are many injustices done to the Minority that needs to be fixed and rectified
Few words on Language and Nation: Nations were build by people of same culture and language. This does not mean each nation should have a country. A nation can exist within a country and enjoy their cultural freedom as long as the contry recognizes it as a nation.
156. TearsForLanka
there are sinhala beggars happily living in colombo. there are tamil millionaires who go around in benzes passing these beggars while smarting & feeling miserable about discrimination. it’s the same story in all countries east or west. the minorities hate the majority big time. specially if a big brother of the minority who promises them heaven lives next door. this minority will feel insulted to live under the real minority of the region forever.
that is why there is no lasting solution in sri lanka other than the economic & spiritual upliftment of all communities. LTTE tamil leaders & their blind followers have messed it up big time & now the sinhala will be harder than nails. much harder than before. they won’t stop now. they will come after the LTTE diaspora the way the diaspora came after the GOSL . make no mistake.
so do not expect any solution other than what they think is fair.
problem with the LTTE diaspora is that they have got lazy with easy money & expect sri lankan tamil peasants to do their dirty work. the peasants can break all their bones for all the LTTE diaspora cares. those who defy their orders are traitors while the LTTE diaspora who have never seen a sri lankan soldier in their lives consider themselves heroes. they go around western capitals carrying banned terrorist flags & wearing military camouflage kits. it’s as if they are doing the real fighting. the sri lankan forces are not found in canada. therefore the diaspora is pretty safe. they should have jumped a plane & joined thalaivar to fight the SLDF. the colombo airport was open but nobody came. while the LTTE diaspora & their children wore military uniforms & danced jigs in the west, the tamil peasants & their women & children in sri lanka wore tattered clothes, were barefoot, starved, rotted in bunkers & fought a losing battle. they had no education, no freedom & no choice. no nothing. when the writing was on the wall & they tried to escape they got shot by their own kind. but it was the fault of the GOSL.
the LTTE diaspora wants to go to heaven but are afraid to die. so for 25 years they made all others die & dreamed of eelam.
keep on dreaming.
“TWO STATE “SOLUTION IS ALIVE
Two federal states solution is very much alive among moderate Tamils.If implemented Srilanka will be a real pearl in Indian Ocean
Dear Tamil_Diaspora (#150)
Your questions are fair ones, so living here in Sri Lanka, let me respond, but in reverse order:
3) No. You don’t have to if they are not for you. SL is still democratic, even if imperfectly – ultimately, we and you can hope that the Tamil community and Sri Lanka as a whole will throw up leaders that you can feel happy about. But be realistic. For 30 years, any Tamil leaders who could have provided principled and educated leadership within democratic politics have been killed by the LTTE. And independent voices like DBS have been forced into exile. All Sri Lankans have suffered as our politics too. Have hope and work with us to make this change. The opportunity to do so is greater than it has been for decades.
2) No – if you don’t want to. I live in Colombo. I doubt even half the Sinhalese have actually put out flags. Some people would be unhappy to and others are not in the least bit interested.
1) General Fonseka’s comments? Yes. I also felt uncomfortable when he said that, and I am SInhalese. I know many others did. I think he is wrong and what he said is bound to be hurtful to many of my fellow Sri Lankans. So how should you interpret and react to it? I think the best way to answer that if you are in the diaspora is recall, that no so long ago in a very big country, there was quite a din about “America is a Christian country” or “This is the real Virginia” {meaning White Virginia), etc etc. You get the picture I am sure. General Fonseka has his counterparts in USA too, don’t for a moment think this is some terrible Sri Lankan thing – people like him exist in all countries.
So how should you and we respond? I think it is best to think about how Americans similarly responded, in particular African Americans. Let’s be honest – many Sri Lankans – Tamils and Sinhalese – would look down on them, but we have a lot to learn from their struggle and their leaders.
Barack Obama takes much of his inspiration from Martin Luther King. Dr King never failed to insist that he was a “Patriot” at the same time that he pointed out his country’s flaws – and as a patriot to constantly demand that his fellow American citizens live up to the most noblest ideals of their country. He kept doing so, even at the very end of his life when he was considered a pariah by mainstream America. He did not reject them, nor buy into their suggestion that he was less American than they were, but he kept on insisting that he and African Americans were very much Americans and so deserved to be and could demand to be treated like anyone else. Sri Lankans are not alone in their capacity to think the way of Fonseka, just as much as Sri Lankans also have the capacity to think quite differently.
I can understand that Tamil people may feel raw and dispirited at this time. I don’t think such emotions could have been avoided at the end after this conflict reached such deadly levels. But as we all move on, the diaspora should realise that they can either take the position of rejecting Sri Lanka and by extension denying any rights to equal treatment within it, or they can work to insist that they too are Sri Lankans and demand that they be treated so. There are many Sinhalese who recognize this, and who understand General Fonseka’s words for what they are. But for many Sinhalese, all they can remember for the past 30 years is Tamils in the diaspora attacking the country and trying to destroy it. Yes – there are Tamils who have been patriots and have continued to serve the country, but their memory tends to get forgotten.
We have to build a future where there is no Sinhalese Sri Lanka or Tamil Sri Lanka, or Tamil Jaffna or Sinhalese Matara or whatever. That requires changing attitudes in all the communities and in people like General Fonseka and in many of the Tamil and Sinhalese commenters on this page, but doing so in ways that still maintain our bonds. It’s going to be hard – the tragedy is that the methods of Martin Luther King were never tried for that long in SL. If violence was intended to bring equal rights, it failed precisely because equal rights must depend on building the solidarity and human bonds that underlie them, and when we are all busy killing each other that was bound to be hard. Moving forward there is bound to be rejection on both sides of each other, but we have to believe that eventually that will change.
it is worth remembering that Martin Luther King is remembered as a true American patriot (after George Washington, he is the only other American to have a public holiday in his memory), precisely because he refused to be disheartened by rejection and unkindness, and because he never gave up hope. The time has come for all of us – Sinhalese and Tamils – to redefine what patriotism is, and just as in America, where Blacks, Whites and Jews marched together with Dr King, we have to do that together.
This is further to what Ranjan said in comment # 141.
In today’s Toronto Star under a heading UN backs Sri Lanka on refugee camps, the paper says :
With more than 250,000 Tamils jammed into camps dubbed “welfare villages,” Sri Lanka has been condemned by aid agencies and governments around the world for restricting access to the camps and for preventing refugees from leaving.
But Canadian Neil Buhne, the United Nations’ top official in Sri Lanka, said some of the criticisms of the government which seems to have successfully repressed the Tamil insurgency in the north of the island have been unfair.
He told the Star the Sri Lankan government’s concerns over security are justified, as are restrictions on aid vehicles allowed into the camps.
“I have no doubt there are at least a few hundred Tigers in the camps,” Buhne said about the rebel Tamil Tigers, “and some are probably hard-line cadres, while others are people who certainly had an association with the Tigers and were forced to pick up arms.”
Buhne’s comments come as the government is being assailed internationally after preventing aid agencies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and Save the Children from bringing supplies into camps near Vavuniya, a city in northern Sri Lanka where most war refugees are.
“There have been a lot of vehicles in and out of those camps,” Buhne said. “It’s a concern because they still don’t know all of the people who are in the camp.”
Roughly 180,000 Sri Lankans arrived at the camps over the last month.
“It’s been a huge influx of people, probably more than most people appreciate,” Buhne said. “You have to give the government credit. It’s mobilizing resources, and is providing electricity and water supplies to the camps. … When refugees come into the camp, the World Food Program has a centre providing a regular food supply and nutritional supplements.
“Our main concern now is space.”
Reply to 158 Mayu
Tamil girls are being taken by the SLA soldiers and rapped and buried.- this is not true. this is sheer propaganda. things may have happened during IPKF time. Sri Lankan Army is the most disciplined army in the world. Narayan, a Tamil Indian Adviser said Fonseka is the best military commander of the world. So nothing wrong could happen under such Leader.
2. Tamils in the South goes through extensive checking and taken away in White wan. – Tamils flourish in South. there are more Tamils in the South than the entire North. We Sinhalese patronise Tamil businesses. LTTE cadres must be arrested and annihilated, whether the van is white or grey is immaterial. I am afraid the govt is too civilized to do that, but I will do it.
3. Journalists talked supportive to Tamils cause, are murdered by MR & Co. There are no arrests yet…These journalists have so many enemies. Anyone could have killed them. Most of the murdered Tamil journalists actually have turned up in other countries. they are disappeared. not murdered.
4. SLA asked the Civilians to go into the Safety Zone and targeted and killed them only because they were Tamils. Yes LTTE shot at them also shelled them not our Army
5. Dead bodies of Tamils civilians and LTTE are being humiliated by SLA soldiers and posted naked pictures in SL official site (defence.lk, army.lk) This is not true. Only LTTE bodies have been displayed. that’s quite ok
6. Tamils are put in Retention Camps and not allowed to talk to the media..There are 250,000 of them. We can’t let all the journalists to flood the camps and interview traumatized civilians. These western journalists make up stories to say the Tamils are discriminated against. Civilian faces tell the story- they are very happy in the camps
7. How will the SL state have reacted if 8,000 of Sinhalese killed in cross fighting?- About 13000 Tamil Tigers were killed recently, not civilians. As a Sinhalese I am very very very HAPPY. Aren’t you happy that the scrouge of Tamil Tiger terrorism is defeated from our mother land?
164 Lucky Aponso !
(1) Are you the PR man for Mahinda ?
(2) What should the Tamils do about the Government Terrorist who have abducted, bombed, and killed countless Tamils dating back to 1958?
THE RACIST VENOM YOU SPEW UNDER THE GUISE OF A “COMMENT” IS TOTALLY DELETED.
Good article, we must find a solution or an answer for the national question by our selfs but not with India cos They India is one of the root cause of our issue. We must Trust our Leaders from HE Mahinda Rajapakshe and Douglas, Sambandan, may be a rep from LTTE but not with India
Re. DBSJs rejoinder in #86. While the universal philosophical and altruistic approach to land is idealistic and populist, there will be confusion and mayhem all over the world if unambiguously constructed entitlement documentation the rule of law, administration of a good system of justice are not present and given expression to in given instances and theatres contemporarily. With the evolution of man, the system of property rights developed and over the years is being perfected. Applying the philosophical theory the universe was created by god and I am gods child. Therefore, I will build my house wherever I want and live therein is not a credo that will be acceptable anywhere in the contemporary world. This much hyped claim of the Sinhala extreme that Tamils forming less than 15% of the Island demanding for 2/3rd of the coast and 1/3rd of the land is both factually flawed and has external aims of a political and dubious propagandist nature. That Tamil-speaking areas of periods during and well before the advent of the Portugese in the North-East contained distinct characteristics from the rest of the Island remains a fact. Therefore, land, sea and adjoining marine resources remain part of this entity with little place for percentages and calculations coming in here. This does not include the fact and tradition of seasonal fisher-folk who have moved up and down different parts of the island in the pursuit of their livelihood for whom provisions should be made to continue their generations-old avocation. It was only last week indigenous people from the USA, Canada, South America, Africa, Australia, New Zealand the some others gathered at the UNHQ in New York focusing on their ancient rights to their land and appealing for justice through the assembly citing armed and superior force, illegal land grabs by alien majorities and other undesirable features have caused them mass displacement and harm. Recent history in North-Eastern Sri Lanka carry many of these features with much more feared to be in the drawing boards both to reduce the Tamils by State-inspired action to minority status and to evict them surreptitiously from their traditional homeland.
Ilaya Seran Senguttuvan
DBSJ,
you said: “If the Tamils recapture that sense of pragmatism for which they were once famous,…”
I ask: can you provide some examples of when Tamils have been famously pragmatic? This should be in contrast to any other language/race/ethnicity’s pragmatism, or else, there won’t be a reason to point this out.
you said: “Constitutionally, Tamil is now on a par with Sinhala as an official language”.
I ask: In what sense is Tamil on par with Sinhalese, even constitutionally? Does the constitution provide for laws to dictate that all official and government documents to be in both languages all over the country?
you said: “Any meaningful political concessions to the Tamil and Muslim people by President Rajapaksa would not be viewed with suspicion.”
I ask: why are Tamils and Muslims in separate categories? The definition of Muslim is nothing but the people who follow Islam – this is a religious division. My claiming Tamils to be different from Muslims, you are subdividing people even further from the ethnic divide. I think the ethnic division itself is a superficial, though necessary for politics, but wasn’t the religious division a factor brought about by the LTTE which chased them out of the North/East? Now that the LTTE is history, shouldn’t we include Muslims with the Tamils, since that is what they speak at home? I know the Muslims won’t like to give up their political gains they have made in recent years by considering themselves to be a separate minority, but we will make it even more difficult to get back with the Tamils if we keep separating them in every discussion.
Again DBS has put forward some thoughts about future of SriLanka.I hope all involved in this process take in to account all sections of the population and bring them together in meaning full way ,making every one feel valued citizen of the land.This has to come from the hearts of all,politicians,journalist,clergy,wellwishers and international community.What is needed is a sincere approach to solving the underlying problems once and for all ,not window dressing.
DBSJ … Please have the latest comments on top.. which will make it easy for us to read da latest comments….
Thanks
Wonderful article. Every Sinhala patriot should read this
You are a mouthpiece of the Sri Lankan Government.
I
Tamils and sinhalese both should leave behind what happened in the past…everyone made their own mistakes but let that not be an excuse for future mistakes…there is room for everyone in Sri Lanka. Tamils, muslims, Malays, SInhalese, burghers….and we are all ‘eka mawakage daruwo’
I will pray for peace amongst all ethnicities forever and a day!
Your articles are pushing towards more divide. Two states or three states do not matter as long as this concept draws us together. I do not understand how you talk about a two state solution when we have 9 province solutions. We should strengthen this concept and devolve more power as case may be to these provinces to reflect the aspiration of different people. The idea you are mooting is to put the Tamil speaking people in one basket to push them further away from each other as desired by LTTE.
After doing all the destruction and harm to Majority Sinhalese population how LTTE and the sympathizers of LTTE could ask total normalize within a day or two. If you go back to Dollar and Kent farm massacre, the attacks at Jaysri Bodhiya, Aranthalawa, Dalada Maligawa we have lot to heal. All this will take time, and both people will have to be patient and tolerant towards each other to make this a reality. But there will be the dormant LTTE sympathizers who will be there to make capital out of short comings.
We have to work on Trust issue on both people before we go far. You know LTTE never had got involved in peace talks to address political issues. When you see the stockpiles of weapons, ammunitions, trenches, bunds, bunkers it is not rocket science to know what the intentions of the LTTE. The resources poured by the aid agencies and the Tamil Diaspora has been diverted not for the welfare of ordinary Tamil people. No development effort has been undertaken in the area dominated by the LTTE. The children have lost their education and other civil amenities have been severely curtailed. The so called court system has been used to punish people who are opposing their view.
I have responded to you in an earlier post. You must find another target not me…………DBSJ
Mr. Jeyaraj,
People such as yourself should return to Sri Lanka to help rebuild our nation. Your analysis is even handed, and provides a beautiful analysis of the aspirations of the tamil people as well as how the LTTE has squandered a golden opportunity for the Tamils of Sri Lanka to win their rights, and address their grievances. COngratulations!
Thank You…………DBSJ
The details are now beginning to leak of last ditch, high level efforts in certain Western quarters to save the Tiger leadership. These pressures and conspiracies probably sealed the Tigers’fate ever tighter.
western countries can only make a nuisance of themselves in this region. aligning themselves with the western powers was another big LTTE mistake in an unending series towards the end. this would have obviously turned off india who were already smarting under a series of insults heaped on them by the LTTE.
the sooner the LTTE supporters realise that -
” INDIA & CHINA ARE THE ONLY POWERS IN THE REGION THAT CAN MAKE DECISIVE CHANGES TO THE POWER BALANCE OF SRI LANKA” – the better for them. others are only of nuisance value..
“This Article was written specifically for “The Hindu” newspaper. It appears as a leader page article in “The Hindu” of May 21st 2009]”—————-
We all knew about ” The Hindu” is a well biased GOSL
propaganda media and honoured by MR
DBSJ RESPONDS:
Appane Sunda
Vanakkam
This article was written for Hindu. It was later posted on my blog. That’s how you saw it. I dont think you are the kind of guy who reads leader page articles in any newspaper let alone the Hindu. I suppose Tamilnet is the mother of all news for you.
Also the same article was reproduced by The Sunday Leader in Colombo also. You know that paper edited by my friend Lasantha who was killed by Mahinda’s goons.? Now even a person of your intelligence will not say the Sunday leader is doing propaganda for Mahinda.
If so why did the leader reproduce it? Think Sunda think. I know its a strenuous exercise for you but please try hard and do it. Think its your “varalaatrukkadamai” (historical duty). Obviously the leader found the article was good enough to be reproduced regardless of it being posted in “The Hindu”.
So Sunda you must try and read the articles first and not dismiss something simply because it appeared FIRST in a newspaper you dont approve of. The lotus blooms in the mud. The pearl forms in an oyster.
Please make an efffort to read this article in full and then come out with your response. But if you find it tough to read just drop it. You should not trouble your overtaxed brain further.
Also about Hindu, do you know its long association with the struggle for Tamil rights in Sri Lanka?
I dont think so
Al
Contribution from tamils and east are minimal.We want here their voices.Is this site is not popular with them.Secondly this government is run by sinhala hardliners.Ultimatetly only their plans will be implemented.The government wants to build the army to 500000 level.They want promote the army to unchalengable position.Only way to get redress from mr is to coperate with him.I do not think that army killed any tamil delibaratly.They may have died in cross fire.That is also due to fault of prabakaran.If he did not use tamil civilians as human shields casuality figures will be much less.Bringing war crime charges will be futile only alienate tamils and sinhalese.Tamils must remember that it is not only tamil civilians died ltte killed many thousands of sinhala civilians.That is why thet celebrate the death of prabakaran.See the way this government fight with international community.Swiss resolution only asked self investigation.Sri lanka has not ratifird ICJ.Therefore sri lanka can not be brought before ICJ.Tamil diaspora should not trust foreign governments but sri lankan government.They failed to save prabakaran by going after the Ic.Best thing is to give up the confrontations cooprate with MR.There is no other solution.He may needs the tamil votes in the next election.So atleast the moderate members of tamil diaspora should adopt this strategy.Don’t be afraid to call to be traitors.IF tamils in the north ignore the call of LTTe to boycot the presidential election they willnot be in this situation.Therefore do not let the others to make decisions but make the decisions on facts and figures.Fist help the IDPs geniunily and built a rapport with MR.He is not a big nationalist before the prasidential election but as they help him to win the election he has to hear their voices.Do not forget tht he is tolerance enough to mary a christian which many buddhists do not do.He was who presented the PTOMS to the parliament.He does not support the conversion bill.Therefore try win his heart by helping him to rebuild the country .Then tamils can their get their rights.If they chose the confrontational ways it will only harden the positioin of MR.
Tamils, Sinhalese, British and Yankees
Tamils
How many Tamils are employed in southern Sri Lankan companies? (See the
number of high caliber Tamils in Sri Lankan banking sector, see hotel trade,
see film trade, see other industries)
Do they experience any hardship professionally due to ethnicity? If so, how
come they hold such high positions?
See how many Tamil kids are getting educated in International schools? They
have outnumbered other ethnicities.
Royal college has Tamil medium, DS has Tamil medium. So many Sinhala major
government schools have Tamil medium and they share equal opportunities. How
many Tamil major schools have Sinhala medium?
Private schools like St. Thomas, Trinity etc have quite a large number of
Tamil students.
Travel Wellawatte, Dematagoda, Dehiwala, Kotahena etc and see the number of
Tamils sharing the comforts.
Go to Pettah market and Fort. Walk along the streets and see how many Tamils
are doing business there.
Start from Kotahena and travel passing Dehiwala. Sinhala shops are
outnumbered by Tamil traders. I dont see any hardship put on them.
Get into a bus and listen how many speak in Tamil.
Try to find a single Sinhala board in Wellawatte. All are Tamil and English.
Go to a government campus. Lets say Colombo campus. See the number of Tamil
students. See the number of Tamil lecturers. They share equal opportunities.
I never saw them being humiliated except they themselves had divisions
saying Batticaloa Tamil, Jaffna Tamil and Upcountry Tamil. They have a
separate Tamil Union, their cultural events, their religious events.
How many kovils are there in Colombo?
See the number of Sinhalese visiting kovils and Tamil shops. Doesnt it
display the harmony?
How many Tamil representatives are in the parliament?
See the number of Tamil youth musicians in Colombo.
Please consider these statistics. If somebody can come up with numbers and
percentages, it would reveal the truth. This is what we should call
rational. Our generation should not waste time on arguing whats unknown to
us and whats not experienced by us. Live today, not yesterday.
Jaffna and Trincomalee have ports, heavy industries, bus stations, railway
stations, radio and TV broadcasting stations, universities and so many other
facilities.
Sinhalese
How many Sinhalese are in Northern and Eastern part of Sri Lanka? (North
none, East, 25%)
How many Sinhala medium schools are there in Northern Sri Lanka? (None)
How many Sinhala employees are in Northern Sri Lankan offices and
industries? (None)
How many temples are there in Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka? (One, at
Nagadeepa)
Can a Sinhalese travel unharmed in Northern Sri Lanka? (Perhaps now, after
the defeat of the LTTE)
How many Sinhalese are in Northern and Eastern universities? (None)
Now, answer me. Where is ethnic cleansing?
Now, for the US Congress and the British Parliament:
It is up to you to analyze and understand the real facts rather than just
believing propaganda like GENOCIDE that is just invented propaganda
to mislead you .
Americans didnt know they were under attack by Osama until it happened.
British started shooting innocent people thinking that they are terrorists
(they couldnt identify the difference!) . So, as a matter of fact there is
no way for them to understand whats happening thousands of miles away in
Sri Lanka . They are simply believing what LTTE propaganda operatives are
feeding them .
First stop what you have started. Clear off Iraq and Afghanistan. Even
with all the power you have, you are still unable to solve the problems.
Sri Lanka doesnt need dumb, swollen headed Yankees and brutal killers of
Britain who have slain millions of Sri Lankans in imperial Ceylon.
If you can’t understand, if don’t want to take the trouble to understand,
MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
The problem is we have now sold Sri Lanka to India and China.
Experts of the free world have failed to see the bigger picture
Many military strategists, political analysts and terror experts in the free world have either failed to recognise the deeper issues in Sri Lanka or they have deliberately applied a methodology to cause one of the greatest humanitarian tragedies of the century.
In any conflict resolution or problem solving exercise, one of the most important parts is to see a bigger picture and define the problem accurately. What goes wrong very often is that the parties who come forward to solve an issue tend to focus on just part of the problem or they try to deal with the symptoms instead of the root cause.
It will be worse, when a party deliberately implement a wrong solution to a problem with hidden agendas.
When they do that, they don’t just fail to solve the main issue but they even end up making the real problem much bigger.
Complexities in the Sri Lankan civil war very often make even the so called wise to misinterpret the truths and make decisions against the vulnerable in the society.
A complete jigsaw puzzle that shows a crying baby can be made into a monster if half of the pieces are removed.
Instead of becoming sympathetic towards the crying baby, the jigsaw player is now confronted with a monster that is made up of half of the pieces.
Those who considered that LTTE was the only problem had failed to understand that they were missing half of the pieces in the puzzle.
Implementing solutions without understanding a problem can cost innocent lives and what has happened in Sri Lanka in the last few months is a proof for this.
Sri Lankan Puppets in the Hands of Emerging Superpowers