7 December, 2024

Blog

Against Nonsense On Reconciliation

By Izeth Hussain

Izeth Hussain

Izeth Hussain

The Jaffna University beating up of Sinhalese University students by their Tamil counterparts sent what has been appropriately called “shock waves” throughout the country. True our University students have been notoriously prone to violence and there have been such incidents before. But the ethnic dimension of what had happened could not be ignored: it happened because of the introduction of a Kandyan dance item into what had traditionally been a purely Tamil ceremony, and it was obviously seen therefore as a further instance of a relentless process of “Sinhalisation” of what was traditionally Tamil geographical space, this time at the very heart of the Tamil homeland, Jaffna. The inclusion of the Kandyan dance item could therefore be seen as essentially exemplifying the Sinhalese triumphalist drive after 2009, and the violent Tamil students’ reaction could be seen by the Sinhalese side as possibly portending a renewal of Tamil militancy.

The ethnic dimension of what had happened was blatant and obtrusive. But – strange as it may seem – the Government chose to ignore it. Initially the Government TV channel ignored the clash altogether in its news coverage, and Government Information Department denied that there was any ethnic dimension to it at all. One of them cited as evidence the fact that the Sinhalese students at Jaffna University found lodgings in Tamil homes! I was reminded of the exasperation I used to feel over reactions to many articles I wrote on the anti- Muslim riots between 1976 and 2002: both at the Government and media level it was denied, adamantly denied, that there was any ethnic dimension to those riots. It is a welcome fact that we have come a long way since then. The Government has been forced to acknowledge the ethnic dimension; the media has been publicizing inter-ethnic clashes that have taken place earlier at other Universities; the civil society has faulted the Government over not being sincere about ethnic reconciliation; and the Government seems to be showing a new earnestness about getting to grips with the problem of reconciliation.

However, that new earnestness may turn out to be not much more than rhetoric. The reason for that arises out of certain facts about the Sri Lankan state. It has been in practice a racist Sinhalese state, not properly a Sri Lankan nation state. That was why our earlier Governments would not recognize the ethnic dimension of those anti-Muslim riots, and that is why the present Government initially blacked out news about the Jaffna University clash and then denied that it had an ethnic dimension to it. It is in the nature of the racist state to ignore the ethnic dimension of problems as long as it does not threaten Sinhalese dominance. But an active civil society – the emergence of which is a fact of enormous significance in Sri Lanka – is making the Government to really face up to the problem of ethnic reconciliation. We can assume also that the quarter century ethnic war is a factor favoring the evolution of the Sinhalese racist state into an inclusive nation state.

But – in deciding whether the Government will really get to grips with the problem of ethnic reconciliation – we must take count of another important fact as well. The Sri Lankan state has been not only a racist Sinhalese state; it has also been fiercely resistant to some crucial aspects of modernity: notably it has been fiercely resistant to the achievement orientation that is at the center of modernity. The patronage system that became spectacular after 1956, together with its concomitant of utter contempt for the merit principle, has become deeply ingrained in our political culture. That was shown recently when Minister Lakshman Kiriella unabashedly divulged that many lucky fellows have been appointed Consultants without having any of the appropriate qualifications because of the services rendered by them at the last elections. We must add that all of them are hugely remunerated at the expense of the Sri Lankan people, more than half of whom are struggling to make ends meet more than ever before in their lives. We have to expect that the Sri Lankan state, racist as it is and backward in its political culture, will be incompetent, more particularly when it enters uncharted territory as in the case of the problem of ethnic reconciliation. That has been clearly shown by the fact that several Ministries and institutions are engaged over that problem, without effective co-ordination, and that a Special Task Force appointed for that purpose is really non-existent. So the new earnestness shown by the Government over ethnic reconciliation could turn out to be not much more than windy rhetoric.

We must now do some rethinking about what is required to promote ethnic reconciliation. I would point to three essentials without which ethnic reconciliation can never get going. The first is a political solution which will enable fair and equal treatment for the Tamils, the prerequisite without which there will never grow the relations of mutual trust and reciprocity that will lead to ethnic reconciliation. No one really seems to know the state of negotiations between the Government and the TNA on the implementation of 13 A. There are Tamils who believe that an understanding has been reached about the full implementation of 13 A. But, as practically everyone knows, the problem is not to reach understanding at an elite political level. The crucial problem is to make it acceptable to the Sinhalese masses who seem to have a deep ineradicable allergy to devolution on an ethnic basis. We wonder what the Government has to say about that.
My two other essentials arise out of the recognition of the fact that the South African model of truth and reconciliation is irrelevant, totally and utterly irrelevant, to the problem of reconciliation in Sri Lanka. There the apartheidists acknowledged that they had been in the wrong, were contrite, and were ready for reconciliation, and on the African side there was Mandela who could promote reconciliation. Here neither side will acknowledge that it has ever been in the wrong, insisting that the other side has always been in the wrong, and the political culture will not allow anyone of the moral stature of Mandela to emerge as leader. The South African case is relevant to Sri Lanka only to the extent that it provides an excuse for our political and other bigwigs to travel to that country, ostensibly to study the reconciliation process going on there.

Let the Sinhalese side acknowledge that the ethnic problem, particularly in its militant form, was a creation of the Sinhalese, not of the Tamils. Discrimination was taken to an outrageous extreme in the standardization scheme of 1971. Let the Tamil side acknowledge that the Sinhalese have thereafter shown willingness to take corrective action over discrimination. Let the Sinhalese side acknowledge that the ethnic war was made unavoidable by the State terrorism unleashed from 1977 o 1983, which left no alternative to the Tamils but to fight to affirm their human status.

Let the Tamil side acknowledge that they spurned every opportunity to reach out to a political solution and that they made a farce of the peace process. Let them acknowledge the genocidal horror of the expulsion of 80,000 Muslims from the North, at a few hours notice and with not much more than the clothes on their backs. Let them acknowledge the horror of not just using child soldiers but of kidnapping children for that purpose. Let them acknowledge the utter inhumanity of using 330,000 Tamils as human shields at the final stage of the war. But, above all, let both sides, the Sinhalese and the Tamils, get together to confront their common enemy, the politically backward and racist Sinhalese state, and pressurize it to move meaningfully towards ethnic reconciliation.

Latest comments

  • 18
    4

    Izeth Hussein,

    You could be sued for the first statement you made on your article.

    Despite your old age, you don’t want to give up your war-mongering huh?

    • 16
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      Yes. Izeth is trying to turn the Sinhalese attention from Islamists fundamentlaists to create troubles against Tamils. This man has got more venom than Mahinda.

    • 3
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      Izeth Hussain

      “The ethnic dimension of what had happened was blatant and obtrusive. But – strange as it may seem – the Government chose to ignore it.”

      The Govt. failed to straighten this mess out. We have equally stupid Para-Tamil students and Para-Sinhala Students in the Campuses.

      Thank you for summarizing the issues involved. While the Jaffna Tamil Mentality, or rather Tamil Vellahala mentality is that this is Tamil Land, Vellahala Land, and All the non-Vellahalas, the “low cast” Tamils, Muslims, Sinhala, should be subservient to the Vellahala Tamils, they also shpuld be sunservient to the Vellahala Tamil Culture, to the exclision of the other cilyutes, because they are in the Land of the Tamils in Jaffna.

      This goes against Diversity, and respect for the others race, religion and culture. This incident clearly shows the Tamil Vellahala mentality, as exemplified by the Ethnic Cleansing of even the Tamil speaking Muslims from the North.

      The Jaffna Tamils are clearly against diversity in Jaffna and respect for the other cultures. The opposition for the Kandyan dancers is points this out clearly. However, Tamils want diversity in the South! Double Standards!

      Who says that the Jaffna Tamils are not stupid? Their average is 79 after all.

  • 5
    14

    Mr Hussein:

    They have not exaplined what this Reconciliation is.

    They may kneel infront of every western country. Yet, Western countries do not run the world.

    If they think reconciliation is giving them a homeland, Tamils as usual typical Tamils are nuts.

    Simply they don’t deserve a country (Not in Sinhale). So, they did not have a country.

  • 7
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    you are free to back to tamil Nadu or go live in Palestine and ask human rights from Israelis and the west

  • 3
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    Accountability is the very antithesis of reconciliation and reconciliation is the very antithesis of separatism.

    Soma

  • 3
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    Appe anduwa our culture should dominate, in the land , sea and air. any how it was delayed for 30 yrs by ltte rumps.

    • 9
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      it was also delayed for 404 years by the jaffna kingdom and 300 years by the portuguese,dutch and british. history might repeat especially if the sinhalese repeat their historical mistakes.The 30 years you mention,what is that compared to 700 years.phew.BTW after 730 years are you sure your original culture still exists in its pristine form of 10th century or is it a polluted culture now?

      where did you get in your original sinhalese culture names like perera,silva and fernando?Your culture is gone mate,gone with the wind.No point in worrying about your culture and trying to see it is all over the island because already it is a foreign culture,well and truly admixtured.no condoms or pills those days.Everyone fucks then disowns the baby as theirs.mongrels we are and happy to be mongrels who are hardy and strong,but do not like to be bossed around.

      http://www.jaffnaroyalfamily.org/royalfamily.html

      • 5
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        ‘where did you get in your original sinhalese culture names’….

        even the word Anduwa as in “Appe Anduwa” is of Tamil origin. may be the proper form of Government was introduced to the Island when the Tamils ruled the Island.

  • 2
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    Hi the lies will not change to truth despite how loud and frequent it is.

  • 1
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    No bones left.

  • 5
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    Why do not you tell the terror done by the Muslims to Tamils. Tell the guide lines which prohibited the Child soldiers at that Time. VP , Nepeolian, Weera Apimanyu, Wellington, Joan of arc and many more are underage when they went to the battlefield.

  • 2
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    “The Jaffna University beating up of Sinhalese University students by their Tamil counterparts sent what has been appropriately called “shock waves” throughout the country”

    The impression one gets is that Jaffna University organised the beating. It was a stoush just like in other universities – for example a fortnight earlier Peradeniya Science students brawled. The Jaffna University incident did not send shock waves. TNA, NPC and NP Chief Minister Wigneswaran have expressed dismay. An independent commission is required to look into why the incident occurred at all. Indications are that this type of brawl may not happen again.

    Here is Sinhala Izeth Hussain earn his living by trying to make it “us vs them”. “How dare Tamils assault ‘us’?” he asks. This is gutter journalism specially tailored for extremists.

    Izeth claims that he “………wrote on the anti-Muslim riots between 1976 and 2002 both at Government and the media level………”. He never took up the 2014 Aluthgama anti-Muslim pogrom. Why? Obviously because he did not want to annoy Gotabaya.

  • 3
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    The very first sentence is not the way to go about reconciliation, apart from its fallacy. Despite several other ‘twists and turns,’ there is a reasonable analysis of some of the challenges for reconciliation. Most glaring however is the blunt characterization of the Sri Lankan state as a racist state. In many contemporary states (even in the West) there are aspects of racism. However, to characterize a state as racist there should be clear evidence and analysis. The UN expelled Apartheid South Africa for racism (1974), and Israel has only observer status for the same/similar reason. One may say Sri Lanka came closer to a racist state in 1983. But total characterization is not correct and also not helpful for reconciliation. I believe Mr Hussain was part of the Foreign Service of that state during this period! I am not saying this to defame him, but one should be careful before making blunt or rhetorical statements. If we keep reconciliation in mind, even our language and analysis should be moderate, not extreme. This applies to me as well. We need to see all sides and seize upon what is positive.

    • 2
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      Reply Laksiri Fernando.
      Fully agree that Izeth’s first sentence is inappropriate. It is in fact provocative.

      “………. Sri Lanka came closer to a racist state in 1983. ………….. I believe Mr Hussain was part of the Foreign Service of that state during this period! …………”
      Izeth will take note only if Lankan Muslims are affected.

    • 3
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      Dear Laksiri

      I have much respect for your liberal views and the keen interest you take in public debates. You are one of those in the public realm ever willing to discus the National Question well above prejudice. In this instance, however, I must note, on several occasions, GoSL allowed itself to be tarred by the racist label. When Mahinda R was in power for a decade, he encouraged his power-drunk brother – whom some call as war deserter – to create such unethical, violent and lawless mobs to threaten and physically harm – in some instances even kill – those of the Christian (Evangelical) and Muslim faiths. Prohibited resources and logistics of the State were made available to him in pursuit of this illegal political activity. In many instances men in cloth like Gnanassara Thero took to the streets and terrorised other citizens – often using vulgar language, threats and intimidation. These are all manifestations of, I believe, a racist State. It is for these the Rajapakses are dead scared of foreign investigators and are, therefore, organising the unemployed, activist students in the streets to create a false impression of popularity. These mobs are paid small per diem, food/alcohol and provided transport – weakness of the Lankan political system – rent-a-mob, if you like. Paymasters are those who illegally benefitted from the Rajapakses – in many cases those deeply engaged in the import and distribution of harmful drugs and similar substances.

      I am afraid, in many instances, the State was not only forced to be racist but absolutely sick as well.

      Backlash

      • 2
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        Dear Backlash,

        I don’t have much dispute about what you say including “GoSL allowed itself to be tarred by the racist label” except your hesitant statement: “These are all manifestations of, I believe, a racist State.” I say ‘your hesitant statement,’ because you yourself are not very convinced. There is a difference between the government/s (GoSL) and the state.

        No doubt there are racist aspects within the state itself, especially when it comes to some of the actors or institutions. However, Sri Lanka’s constitution or the legal system cannot be characterized as racist, whatever the weaknesses or deformities. Racism is there within the political culture and among the political actors some of the time using state apparatuses. The hope is within the democratic structures and processes although underdeveloped. If we discard the state as racist, we tend to lose hope. It can also encourage anti-state violence or chaos. That is not the way to go about achieving reconciliation, justice and better democracy in my opinion.

        Laksiri .

        • 1
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          Dear Laksiri

          The line dividing the Government and State such as in ours is indeed very thin and often fragile. When our present Constitution was framed there was much evidence of our racial divide – that continues in subtle ways (e.g. singing of the National Anthem issue) Take the case of 7/83 when hundreds of thousands Tamils were robbed, many physically attacked and dozens killed, billions of rupees property stolen/vandalised. It is to the shame of the country’s legal and governance process not a single culprit was named or fined. A water-tight case was filed in the Kurunegala Aisszes against several identified IRC’s of the area who had taken part but a judge from a Colombo upper middle background, known for his anti-stance, set all of them free. Only a few days ago a few army men accused of killing over 30 Tamil citizens (some years ago) in the EP were set free by the Anuradhapura Magistrate. The alleged killers from the army in this case were identified by a witness who gave evidence in the Courts. The judgement said there was insufficient evidence to convict.

          Yes – The Constitution provides for protection and justice but the world sees a different picture. During their familial rule the Rajapakses treated the Constitution, the Courts, the Police and the governance process like trash. It is left to some Britons to prove to the world our laws are a joke in that instance where a Rajapakse shill killed a young British tourist lass. The genocidal attitude of the State during the Aluthgama events against the Muslim minority raises many questions about the neutrality of the State – lead then by a truant careless Government.

          There is much work to be done before we remove the racist label
          from our governance. I agree some efforts are on the way. Sadly, there is much opposition to this from chauvinistic majoritarian quarters.

          Many thanks
          Backlash

    • 2
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      Dear Prof. Laksiri Fernando,
      Why are you saying that Srilanka is not a racist state. Here are several reasons to label Srilanka as a racist state.

      1. Disenfranchisemant of Indian Tamils in 1948 and deportation of one million of them in 1964. Displacement of several of them onto the road, during 1970 to 1977 from estates which government said were unproductive and parcelling those lands to Sinhalese. Of those remaining in Srilanka, several of them are still being denied higher education or government jobs.
      2. Imposition of Sinhala language on Tamils resulting in several Tamils losing their jobs, promotions and increments. Tamils being unable to follow proceedings in courts. Tamils still receiving letters in Sinhala despite Tamil being declared official language in 1987.
      3. Discrimination in employment and higher education bypassing internationally accepted criteria of merit. when merit was the sole criteria 75% of engineering and 45% of medical intake were Tamils.
      4. Discrimination of Tamil areas in development. Since 1953 no major development took place in Northern province, while in Eastern province development took place with the sole intention of settling Sinhalese. In 1985 privately owned prawn farm in Kokkadicholai was destroyed by security forces and government refused to allow it to be restarted.
      5. State sponsored violence on Tamils and failure to bring to justice any Sinhala perpetrators and failure to compensate Tamil victims which is in contrast to compensating quickly all Sinhala victims of not only violence but also accidents like Salawa.
      6. State sponsored settlements of Sinhalese and state sposored ethnic cleansing of Tamils in Eastern province and border areas of Norhtern province to alter the demographic pattern changing Tamil names to Sinhala ones and claiming that those lands belonged to Sinhalese.
      7. Refusal to correct injustices done by British to Tamils while at the same time correcting and some instances over correcting real and percieved injustices done by British to Sinhalese.
      8. Refusing to change the mono-ethnic security services into a truly Srilankan one with substantial amount of Tamils, which will prevent any atrocities on Tamils by security forces.
      9. Failure of judiciary to be impartial and deliver justice in any confrontation between Sinhalese and Tamils. The recent judgements in Mailantenne and Kumarapuram murder trials when despite incriminating evidenc of first degree murder, the army perpetrators were set free.
      10. Willful destruction of cultural and religious monuments of Tamils including burning of ancient ola leaves in Jaffna library, suppressing archeolgical findings disproving Sinhala myths. Inculcating into the minds of children, Mahavamsa faslehoods of Sinhala supremacy and anti Tamil rhetoric despite the recent DNA study to prove otherwise.

      I hope these are adequate to convince you, which are some of the criteria that are used to label other states in the world as racist.

      • 0
        1

        Dr Gnana,

        “Refusal to correct injustices done by British to Tamils while at the same time correcting and some instances over correcting real and percieved injustices done by British to Sinhalese.”

        Feel free to file a case against UK and claim compensation like some victims did in Kenya. Why don’t you sue the Portuguese and Dutch also while at it?

        Thank you for your list. We should not forget the past but that does not mean that we should live in the past. There will be no reconciliation and development if both sides continue to live in the past.

        • 1
          0

          No one is asking you to live in the past. Accept the truth that Srilanka is a racist state which has committed injustice to Tamils and correct them. To correct an injustice Sinhalese must first accept that they have committed them. How many Sinhalese are prepared to accept it, and grant justice to Tamils.

          Let us forget the past and move on. Tamils have demanded that they be allowed to live with dignity in their lands of historic habitation as first class citizens ruling themselves without any Sinhala interference. This can easily be accommodated without dividing Srilanka, which Tamils have agreed to consider.

          All what we are hearing is that Sinhalese are not willing to move away from their supremacist mindset of keeping Tamils suppressed under Sinhala rule. Go ahead and share territory and power with Tamils returning to the status prior to European conquest. Stop giving lame excuses to deny Tamils their land and power.

          Without justice there cannot be any reconciliation. Please follow the examples set by other countries in settling similar problem resulting in peace. No self respecting Tamil will ever accept any solution that entrenches Sinhala rule on them. Until and unless Sinhalese realise this, there is no chance for peace.

          • 0
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            Dr. Gnana S’s language may not be the ideal one falling reflecting political correctness. But it is frank and forthright – and represents, more or less, the general Lankan popular Tamil position.

            The crass comment – or a threat? – “There will be no reconciliation and development” shall not bother Tamils any more. They’ve not had any development for many decades. They have been condemned to live like slavish chattels. They have been, by divine and via State intervention, evicted from their homes and agricultural lands and fishing. Over a million have fled for their lives in fear of the armed forces – all acknowledged by the international community. They can take a little more. In the meantime, the Sinhala South is in total disarray, suffers virtual economic collapse and goes through unprecedented political instability. The economy is in shambles. The Rupee is in dire straits. The South is divided into 3 – the Coalition government, the Rajapakse-lead opposition cabal and the power bloc controlled by the Mahanayakas and the politicised army/tri forces. The political system plays the fiddle while the country burns.

            The once influential and powerful middle class – built by successive UNP regimes – has been gradually destroyed. This more by the Rajapakses in the past decade who systematically and openly emptied the nation’s coffers. The young and the well-educated in this useful class can no longer afford to own a car as they start their professional life. These now cost at least Rs.3-4 million for the most basic Indian model. Who can afford this? The middle-class cannot afford decent housing – now over Rs.30-50 million in the WP. The lower middle class and the poor find it difficult to manage 2 meals a day. The ranks of the Unemployed graduates increases by the month – and they occupy the streets in the Capital almost weekly. People fear a civil war anytime.

            Sri Lanka is no different to the bankrupt Zimbabwe- now an international basket case.

            It is ironical while the intent was to destroy the thriving Tamils as a race in the Island, the Sinhala suffering currently and their collective fear of an uncertain future appear to be matters involving divine intervention. Even the Sinhalese are now leaving in droves, illegally, seeking a living and safety overseas. I do not wish to infuriate my Sinhala friends – but they will realise matters have gone too far to the point even a dozen Ranil Wickremasinghes cannot help anymore.

            Pandaranayagam

            • 0
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              Pandaranayagam,

              While I mostly agree with your analysis I disagree with the following:

              “But it is frank and forthright – and represents, more or less, the general Lankan popular Tamil position.”

              My impression is that Dr Gnana S. comes from an upper class and high caste Colombo background. He belongs to the Colombo elite and as a doctor even to the British elite. He is a Royalist, English speaker and apparently has spent most of his adult life in the UK.

              How would he be able to understand the majority of Tamils in the NP and EP who have experienced first hand the horrors of war and poverty? How can Dr Gnana understand low caste people with failed O-levels worrying about the next meal?

              Many of the Tamils abroad and in Colombo have similar problems.

              The price of cars is not at all relevant for most of the people in NP and EP.

              • 0
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                Lone Wolf

                Thanks. My friends the very wealthy Kumar P, Neelan T N and the senior SJVC, young MA Sumanthiran are all upper class, elite Tamils. To the last man, they feel deeply for the poorer Tamils in Tamil majority areas. There are multiple thousands more. They deeply feel the pains and inflicted tribulations of the beleaguered Tamil Nation. In a way 7/83 united all Tamils everywhere in the island emotionally and the tragic events of 2009 reinforced this feeling of Naam Thamilar (We Tamils) – caste factor notwithstanding.

                As to the examples of exhorbitant car prices, don’t forget there are young professionals in the Tamil areas too.

                Pandaranayagam

          • 0
            0

            Dr Gnana,

            Thank you for your comment. I assume that it is for me.

            “Accept the truth that Srilanka is a racist state which has committed injustice to Tamils and correct them.”

            I agree.

            Not only Tamils have faced and face injustice. Should we not remember what happened during the JVP revolts, water protestors killed 3 years ago, attacks on Muslims, Lasantha killing and all the rest. Are you willing to admit the structural injustice and violence in Sri Lanka that has very little to do with ethnic background?

            “How many Sinhalese are prepared to accept it, and grant justice to Tamils.”

            Don’t we need justice for all not only for Tamils? Should not the injustices committed by Tamils on Tamils and others be investigated?

            “This can easily be accommodated without dividing Srilanka, which Tamils have agreed to consider.”

            How to achieve this without political power (=MPs) and when almost all the money for government services and investment in the NP and EP comes from Colombo?

            “Go ahead and share territory and power with Tamils returning to the status prior to European conquest.”

            Now you are dreaming about the “glorious” past. How happy were most Tamils in those days? Slavery, violence, caste discrimination etc?

            “No self respecting Tamil will ever accept any solution that entrenches Sinhala rule on them. Until and unless Sinhalese realise this, there is no chance for peace.”

            I hope that you are wrong. A divided minority without political power that depends on outsiders for money cannot choose very much. Maybe we need “Real Politik”?

  • 0
    7

    Sinhala Students cannot have an item they want even though this university is Sri lanka.

    Is that Reconciliation ?

    Tamilhomeland in the Srilankan north as well as reconciliation

    what ?

  • 3
    1

    Is this truly real? Has Izeth Hussain become reasonable and impartial? It is just as well our friend finally suffers at attack of goodness – after a long period of pure racial devilry. As I proceed to examine his piece, I will compliment him on the many instances of welcome changes to his thinking he has come out with in this essay.

    I regret, however, he begins his piece this week on the wrong foot. To insist “The Jaffna University beating up of Sinhalese University students by their Tamil counterparts” is a deliberately concocted partial accusation characteristic of his nature to set the Sinhalese against the Tamils. The truth is both sides, regretfully, seem to have used blows against each other. How Hussain missed that point is intriguing. To attribute the beating only to the Tamil side is not merely unfortunate but consistent with the racial prejudice Hussain is generally identified with.

    Few will disagree with Hussain when he rediscovers his marbles noting “The Sri Lankan State..has been in practice – a racist Sinhalese state” It becomes increasingly racist by the day – particularly during those days of “State patronage” of the Rajapakses that produced such super Buddhist Sinhala heroes like that un-buddhistic overfed thug in robes Gnanassara Thero (BBS), the various Ravayas and Ravanayas – all with the avowed agenda to terrorise minorities in the country – that includes Christians as well. These ruffians were assured the Police and the process of justice will look the other way as they break law after law in their march to spread terror among those of other faiths.

    “We can assume also that the quarter century ethnic war is a factor favoring the evolution of the Sinhalese racist state into an inclusive nation state” Hussain fumbles once more in this contradictory comment. Sri Lanka has never been and will not be a Nation State. For millennia, the island is made up of two Nations – the Sinhala in the South and the Tamil in the North East – that is to say, in recent centuries. The best it can hope, in the given circumstances, is to remain a United Country of different races and religions. Military might, force of larger numbers or intimidation by extremists from the majority cannot bring in the much hyped for Unitary State.

    I am fully with you in your present belief “Let the Sinhalese side acknowledge that the ethnic problem, particularly in its militant form, was a creation of the Sinhalese, not of the Tamils” Such an acknowledgement will only take us towards early unity and reconciliation and prove the loss of so much of blood and assets in the past 30 years was entirely unnecessary.

    “Let the Tamil side acknowledge that the Sinhalese have thereafter shown willingness to take corrective action over discrimination” While fully endorsing this wish, allow me to remind you that stance of the Tamil Nation – as expressed through the voice of the Tamil people vide the TNA, within and without Parliament in recent years, is in accord with this line of inclusive thinking. The organised Tamil representation is aware the Sinhala side is now making attempts to provide justice to them. Equally, it is aware of the State’s own difficulties with Sinhala extremism within its own governmental ranks and, therefore, a return to sanity will not be swift. I feel reasonably optimistic the Sinhalese, as seen in the examples of the late Rev. Sobita Thero and the JVP see making up with the Tamil side is wise and prudent – and, above all, in their interests.

    I hope both the political and religious leadership among the Sinhalese see the wisdom in your pragmatic thoughts “Let the Sinhalese side acknowledge that the ethnic war was made unavoidable by the State terrorism unleashed from 1977 to 1983, which left no alternative to the Tamils but to fight to affirm their human status…” Surely, the army and the Sinhala extreme, by now, must realise resort to arms cannot force the Tamils to surrender their rights to long-denied justice and the right to live in their own land.

    I am afraid you find your new found sense of justice and enthusiasm to colour your thinking when you write “Let the Tamil side acknowledge that they spurned EVERY OPPORTUNITY to reach out to a political solution and that they made a farce of the peace process..” This is blatantly false and is a further sign of your trying to get to the good side of the Sinhala side in the debate. Those agreements concerning the Reasonable Use of Tamil, Regional Councils, District Councils of the pre-1983 period the now aborted Indo-Lanka Agreement of 1987 are all examples you seek. It is, therefore, wrong to accuse Tamils rejected peace opportunities at every opportunity. However, I agree Prabakaran rejected several moves to peace – by GoSL and inspired by the International community – during his time. That may well be because he was convinced, in the background of many previous violations by Sinhala governments of different political persuasion, any more Agreements will be exercises in futility.

    Predictably, you now bring in the case of the “evicted Muslims from the North” My thoughts are the Muslim Question is one that needs to be addressed both by the inhalese and Tamils AFTER the National Question is settled. I agree with the perception of many Tamils while the Sinhala-Tamil issue surfaced in the mid-1950s – with the Muslims in sympathy with the Tamil side – Sinhala interests in the mid-1980s used the late Ashraff as a tool to sabotage any possible moves in the settlement of the Sinhala-Tamil issue. Premadasa and Mathew were two main architects in this conspiracy. The Muslim issue has since been the 3rd new factor. Fortunately, it looks like many Sinhalese are beginning to see through that the Muslims have carefully nursed their own Agenda benefitting from the stalemate in the National Question.

    I hope other Muslims take note of your comment “Discrimination was taken to an outrageous extreme in the standardization scheme of 1971” Once when an Indian journalist asked Prabakaran for the reasons of the “War against the Sinhala State” he referred to this and said the future of young educated Tamil Doctors, Engineers, Architects Lawyers and so forth were destroyed by the long-term machinations of that ambitious Muslim in Mrs.B’s 1970 Government – Badiudin Mahmud. The man is dead and gone but he has ruined Tamil-Muslim friendship.

    Backlash

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      For true reconciliation to take place. people should first acknowledge the real history of the island and not rely on racist myths and origins, that has basically caused all this problems.
      Sinhalese should acknowledge the fact that they are not Aryans but a Dravidian people largely descended from indigenous Tamil and other tribes who converted to Buddhism and later mixed with other immigrants from India largely again from then Tamil country Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
      Muslims should acknowledge the fact that they are not Arabs but descended from Hindu Indian Tamil immigrants who converted to Islam. A few hundred families having partial Arab ancestry but still predominantly Tamil does not make them Arab or Moorish in any way. Just because their Dravidian Tamil ancestors converted to Islam does not stop them from being Tamil and make them Arab. Most of the world’s Muslims are not Arabs but are from the Indian subcontinent and Indonesia. Trying to pathetically cling on to the name Moor that the Portuguese incorrectly gave them is really sad.
      Sri Lankan Tamils should realise that ethnically and culturally their closest kin are the Sinhalese

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    Which is important?? the culture? continuation of certain culture? Culture is not static. for eg see Buddhist culture , In SL It has changed to decimate people of non Buddhist believers, It has changed to have non Buddhist as under privileged in every aspects. Tamil culture changed to Saiva culture and then Hindu culture then adopt and mingle with christian and islamic cultures. Ok no harm in mingling with Singhala culture. Yes it is acceptable when Singhala culture become strong as British empire . Until then we have to fight its dominance. Culture or ruler is not important But the fairness and justice. The original Tamil culture is supposed to be based on that.

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    Who has provoked IH to write a article of this sort. To say discrimination was taken to outrages extreme, Tamils militant form was a creation of Sinhala states is something that I didn’t expect from this author having read his previous articles. This is the thing, he knew what is real and what is not, but he wrote most of the times what the majorities want to hear, this time he would have perhaps disappointed them, particularly with the sophisticated first sentence, which is sort of baited them to read.

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    “The Jaffna University beating up of Sinhalese University students by their Tamil counterparts sent what has been appropriately called “shock waves” throughout the country.”

    A shock was received only by the political Babas like Izeth. And, further, it is as usual Izeth dramatization and ad snowing his dishonesty. But, the rest is containing a statement value with the usual Izeth’s subliminal message calling for the pogrom. Many commentators have accurately clarified that Izeth’s main point there is setting up a 1983 black July like pogrom. He knows as LTTE, who had put an end for that annual ceremony, is no longer there and if goes, no hold will be barred.( Even TNA’s NPC MP, when he went to Aluthgama, the Muslims victims’ first question was where the LTTE leader Pirapaharan had gone. )But as everybody understands that, there is no point in beating the dead snake once more. So let’s pass beyond that.

    As a man well manipulates and uses the communal tension, Izeth has pointed out that Tamils are, now, discontented as ever they were. He is sarcastically enjoying the Yahapalanaya’s dupe of reconciliation. He understands that Yahapalanaya Royal Government is not ready to question even the dog that was eating carcasses in Mullivaaikkaal. The constitutional amendments talk is only to let the last few moments at easy to the Secretary Kerry’s administration before its natural death in November. There are three more months to go.
    Mangala has clearly said that “he knows Condoleezza Rice and she is a friend him, but Secretary Kerry is not Condoleezza Rice”. Further, Ranil has said that American Economic Initiation cannot go forward without China. (So let’s says, privately- between you and me, High Commissioner Samantha Power will never be delivered with Iddiyappam and Pol Sambol.) Ranil’s talk is a comment openly intended to annoy America and the preamble passage to tear the pacts Mangala Made in Washington D.C., without the participation of Chinese ambassador. He did not praise Germany or Japan or India. He purposely did compare China.
    America, under Secretary Kerry, has been unnecessary praising Lankawe’s achievements of taking forward the UNHRC’s (2015-September) resolution, which is America’s adopted child. But, in last June in Geneva, Lankawe disappointed the whole world, by New King openly rejecting the resolution’s terms which was cosigned by them. Signing and tearing off a piece of paper is not something new for Lankawayans. But Secretary Kerry has been comparing Lankawe to Rangoon and claimed that Lankawe has been turned around, the same way Myanmar has been done. That where it looked silly. In her last visit, Assistant Secretary to South East Asia, Nisha Biswas claimed the American-Lankan relationship is at no time high now. But Udaya Gammanpila followed exact path of Mervyn Silva and commented the same thing with the same words used Mervyn to UNHRC High Commissioner Navi Pillai. These are the rowdies who claim they follow the path of Maha Nirvani Buddha. This kind of degradation of mutual respect of diplomats in Sri Lanka has grown, now, up to showing it to American diplomats.

    When Patricia Butenis and Michelle Sisson were in Lankawe, they talked with Chitanta Royal Government even the dismissal of CJ Shirani Bandaranayke. Robert Blake, though when he was the Ambassador he brought the unwanted victory to Old King and strengthened him, but, he was the one took Lankawe to UNHRC too. All three of their works has been nullified by current Ambassador Atul Keshap. He put Lankawe at the ease of asking or telling to Assistant Secretary, personally a carrier diplomat, of her motived was coming to Lankawe. In turn, Lankawe has used Ambassador Atul Keshap not anything different from the using of Hakeem to send UNHRC or using Bathiyutheen to bring in standardization, a notorious act not was found even in Pretoria apartheid white government. In the time of Michelle Sisson, Samantha Power, Susan Rice, Secretary Clinton, Kaheem has been struggling to answer the questions of American diplomats. In Secretary Kerry and Ambassador Atul Keshap time a fringe Sinhala Buddhist, an irresponsible Joint Comedian, Udaya Gammanpila asked if the American Diplomats are coming to Lankawe to look for marriage partner, without need to take any repercussion.
    Izeth’s above statement is stemming from a Tamil saying. “When the strong things like iron are flying for this kind of wind, what the Kapok cotton would do?” The Kapok Sampanthan’s talk of making peace with Lankawe and having that pacts implement by the Yahapalanaya Government is most fruitless talk ever proposed by a Tamil Politician. That is the point Izeth is raising here. There was no sincerity in any of the Sinhala Buddhist Appe Aduwas actions in the past. The same way there is no sincerity in Yahapalanaya government too for reconciliation. There is no difference…… between the past and the current. 1956, 1976, 1983 and June 2016 at Geneva are one and the same

    Army is forcefully entering the Sari Ceremonies and playing the barbaric Kandyan Dance there. Army forcing entering the protection-less women headed homes and have earned the name of one of the rapist army with in the 22 notorious nations. Army is forcefully holding the Tamils’ land and leisurely playing cricket in the field which was the only source of the Northern Farmers’ income. It is blocking the fishing Fields in the ocean. It is running hotels, it’s maintaining whole tourism industry, selling vegetable by cultivating Tamils lands, it is blocking the school compounds from the school children, it is running Nursery to Tamils to convert them, it is forcefully arranging Tamils girls to marry their members and it is forcefully using Tamils to sell and transport illegal drugs……. The list is going on and on and on… without an end. Watching this from Colombo and control it with a remote control is not making reconciliation. This is only a peace deal “between the JR’s Party and the Joint Comedians Party” to cheat IC and UNHRC, and destroy the Tamils. This is not reconciliation at all.

    Though Sampanthar has claimed that he is making peace, Tamils have not believed that is what taking place at the negotiation tables. In fact this Yahapalanaya occupation of North is many times higher fold than Junius Richard’s occupation and burning the Tamils cultural library an action took to the time of harvesting season of recruiting the Tamil youths to LTTE and liberation war. It is at that time Sinhala students left Jaffna University. Now they are returning back. It is in this condition the Sinhala Students were sent to Jaffna University to demand for Kandyan dance and elephant walk in the processions.

    As a person stealthily study between the lines and utilize them to spread of his “Izeth Wahhabism”, Izeth readily understands that there is no attempt has been made by Yahapalanaya Government to alleviate the pain of majority people’s oppression on Tamils.

    Oppression is not just coming to Tamils from the Yahapalanaya Appe Andu. It is coming from the Government, Army, police, court, business competitors, educators, Teachers, professors…….. It is injected through every small eyelet can be found not covered by Tamils to protect them. From the senile worthless lying in the bed without medicine or care to pass off to the other world to the new one arrived, crying, looking at the empty the milk bottle is made to feel the oppression.

    “Yahapalanaya New Royal Government is neither ready to tame itself from its violent, racial brutality, nor to educate the people to become tolerant of Tamils. The Government has told it is going to share power (police, land…). But it has told irrigation is not covered under 13A so, it will be used in the way it wants to change the demographic structure of the North. In other word, government is saying there will not be a cover for Tamils in any part of or aspects of their life, other than they become the third class Sinhala citizens.

    When British Prime Minister went to Jaffna, he met the refuges. (Tamils are losing this one of their best friend from power when he gets out of the office) But when Ranil and New King go there, they meet only Army and Sinhala citizens. They try to assure that the Sinhala agents of the North can depend on the power of the South to carry out their spying and destruction duty. This is in right opposite to what they are telling to IC and UNHRC which is asking the government to educate the people for reconciliation. Further the government is assuring the Ayatollahs, army, police, politicians, politicians’ henchmen and rowdy gangs of the increment of their share of the power. Mahendran, though he is a non-Tamil Tamil is the only one removed from the job by the Chief of the country, New King for all 15 -20 years of corruption, political power wielding, misappropriations of government fund and peoples’ money.

    The Sinhala students had the bravery to intrude into the procession and started the first punch on the majority, native Tamil students. Then by fear they insisted of redeployment of the army in the university compound if they have to go back to the classes. If Sinhalese fear to Tamil for anything, would they have been celebrating annual pogroms island wide? What kind of story is this? This is telling that it was a clear planning from the South, not exclusively from Joint Comedians, as they are part of the Yahapalanaya gilmart, it was preplanned by the SLFP-UNP allied forces. Then to cover up their part to the IC and UNHRC, Yahapalanaya declared that there was no racial tension in the University. Tamil Youths retaliation was an instant uprising, and line of division on that unrest was racial demarcations. Tamil students did not go into Sri Jayawardanapura University and do this. This was done by Sinhala Students coming to Jaffna University. It was result of Yahapalanaya Government’s full force resistant to educate the crowd of South, from the average Sinhala Buddhist laymen to the power wielding Kandy Asgiriya Ayatollahs.

    These are few of the symptoms that indicate the government is not sincere in reconciliation, but, are waiting to the American election to carry out its full scale plundering the Tamils lives and livelihood. So Izeth is making his statement here. 145,000 Tamils has been cluster and chemical bombed. Every means of Tamils is under grip of Sinhala Government. But the Tamils students’ response for Sinhala student’s provocation is an instant uprising. Izeth is saying human life cannot take oppression beyond a limit. The oppression is at much higher level, than in 1956, when the Sinhala Only was declared; it is at much higher level than 1976 when, without any other alternative, the Vaddukoddai convention came in; it is at much higher level than 1983 when the Tamils were forced out of the country or made to man the LTTE.

    “Ara Nanainchall Kulir Enna Koothal Enna”. (If fully soaked in the cold rain, there are no two different things as cold and freezing chill, it is one and the same). This was the sign language came out of the protest of Tamil students to accommodate Kandyan dance insertion into Jaffna culture. This is not something Old King fooling Indian FM with Mattu Pongal Pukkai and he in turn, he commented Sinhala Government is very cultural oriented.

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    Bring back the BBS.

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