By

Dr.Vickramabahu Karunaratne

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa speaking on behalf the government said that the TNA was attempting to push Tamils in the North to spread racism and separatism. According to him, the appeal to vote for the new manifesto amounted to that and nothing less. The minister further said that it was crystal clear with the new election manifesto that the TNA was playing the racist card to win the Northern Provincial Council election.

The pledges made by the TNA in their election manifesto could not be fulfilled through a Provincial Council administration. Hence, the minister said, the TNA was only playing the racist card to mislead the voters in the North. He charged that the TNA was planning to paint a different picture to the international community, in case they won the NPC elections. He said that all what the TNA wanted was to turn an election victory as a mandate for separatism. Meanwhile, the TNA was not willing to dismiss this criticism as election rhetoric as MP Sumanthiran had replied to this charge elaborately. His reply included the following excerpts.

“It is a Goebbels lie to claim that the TNA’s position on the need for federalism is a form of secessionism. When our manifesto refers to ‘our right to exercise our option to determine what is best for us to ensure self government in the Tamil speaking North-East of the country within a united Sri Lanka’, that is precisely what we mean. But in the definition of this regime and its apologists – united is separate. Analogies to an Orwellian dystopia have been made before, and this is not surprising, for with this government war is peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is strength. It is essential for reconciliation, therefore, that vicious lies about the ‘other’ – whether about infertility inducing sweets being distributed at Muslim owned clothing stores, or about Tamil federalists being secessionists are rubbish. The purveyors of this form of hate have no place in a plural society”

Those are strong words no doubt, but the TNA’s position is very mild because they assure that they do not insist on the right of self-determination which is a right for any nation or nationality. Instead they call for internal self-determination which is a throttled version of actual self-determination. In effect, it does not mean any self-determination, but a simple demand for self-government or autonomy.

In fact, autonomy is a fundamental right of any distinct group of humans whether they claim to be a nation or otherwise. However, the right of self determination is the right to secede; though one may not exercise that right.

It is true, by calling for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment; the TNA is upholding the constitution, including the sixth amendment. It is also an extension of their cooperation to Mahinda to fulfill the pledges that he had made. Mahinda promised to go beyond the 13th Amendment in the direction of more meaningful devolution. Surely this can only mean movement in the direction of a more federal structure. Therefore, the TNA’s call for meaningful devolution in a federal structure must be construed as an act of cooperation with Mahinda and his government in fulfilling its own promises. This offer of cooperation is termed as ‘violating the constitution’, ‘LTTE agenda’, and ‘separatism.’ It shows the stupidity and ignorance of the ruling clique.

What must be made clear is that the TNA is not asking for the implementation of the right of self- determination which is an accepted right of any nationality within the UN framework. TNA’s manifesto renounces that right and shows faith in the promises of the government.

Mahinda should be thankful to TNA leadership for this magnanimous offer. They are prepared to forget the cruelties carried out by this government and want to cooperate with the government. In this light, Mahinda should call the Parliamentary Select Committee to discuss the implementation of this manifesto.