By Thambu Kanagasabai –
Thambu Kanagasabai
An unassailable present Rajapaksa Government could rule for another ten years and possibly more if the 20th Amendment finds its way in the Constitution. An entrenched dynastic rule appears to be looming partly contributed by dishevelled and splintered opposition from UNP and United Peoples Action parties along with contribution from the disunitedly wrangling self-centered Tamil political parties numbering seventeen with seventeen leaders vying for the leadership of Tamils and focused on strengthening their political base and party while motivated to boost their images, seeking self-glory and popularity.
It need not be detailed again to list the grievances of Tamils which commenced in 1948 and continue to pile up and accumulate with no redress in sight from the Sri Lankan Governments ruled by the majority Sinhalese and their parties who are working overtly and covertly to make Sri Lanka a pure Sinhala Buddhist state exclusively to foster, promote and preserve the Sinhala Buddhist culture, religion, language and race. The casualties in this racial and religious discriminatory genocidal process are the minorities, Tamils and Muslims who are facing the grave and inevitable prospect of gradual extinction as distinct races who have inhabited the Island for more than 2500 years, before the purported arrival of mythical Vijaya in BC 483
Though Sri Lanka’s democracy has resulted in free and fair elections, general and local, the irony is that the democratic Parliament being dominated by Sinhala Buddhists has been utilized to pass anti-democratic and discriminatory legislations to satisfy the Sinhala-Buddhists and Maha Sanga. These deep flaws in the governance by successive Sri Lankan Governments have led to the polarizations based on race, religion and language, resulting in pogroms, massacres and growth of militancy among the Tamil youths. The 99% Sinhala dominated Security Forces and the state discrimination of minorities has created insecurity, uncertainty and fear among the Tamils and Muslims.
The genocidal war between the Security forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam [LTTE] which snatched the lives of more than 70,000 civilians, with more than 25,000 involuntary disappearances, knocked the eyes and ears of United Nations, UNHRC and International Community who for the past 72 years since independence maintained deadly silence and ignored hundreds of massacres including pogroms in 1956, 1958, 1971, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1996 and genocidal full scale war from 2006-2009.
The United Nations and UNHRC belatedly scrambled into action and finally brought Sri Lanka into their radar. This resulted in the UNHRC Resolutions 30/1 and 40/1 calling Sri Lanka to implement their Recommendations to mete out accountability and justice while upholding rule of law. As expected and prophesized, Sri Lanka pursued its usual delaying tactics and finally quitting the Resolutions and Recommendations for state burial. The present Government has defiantly and contemptuously declared its rejection of 30/1 and 40/1 Resolutions and also vowed not to implement any of those Recommendations. It is to be noted that though Sri Lanka has the right to refuse to implement the recommendations, the Resolutions will not lose their legality and validity and its binding effect on Sri Lanka. Consequently UNHRC is expected to pass its final Resolution against Sri Lanka in the March 2021 UNHRC Sessions after studying the final reports and recommendations of UN Rapporteurs, some of them could visit Sri Lanka before the March 2021 UNHRC Sessions.
In the light of the intransigent attitude of Sri Lanka, UN, UNHRC and the International Community cannot sit and watch passively without plunging into taking meaningful mandatory measures against Sri Lanka.
However, the minorities particularly Tamils and those who are victims of war do not see any light at the end of the tunnel. On the contrary, instead of taking remedial and healing measures, ,the present Government has embarked on an accelerated Sinhala-Buddhisisation, program in the North and East to obtain its goal of making Sri Lanka a SINHALA BUDDHIST STATE.. The words Tamils, political settlement and their grievances are no more in their dictionary though numerous promises were given to the UN and the International Community.
Militarization and colonization coupled with state appointed Commissions to study the Archaeological sites in the Eastern Province to hide, destroy, and or distort the Tamil’s historical and archaeological sites and evidences to concoct a conclusion to support the existence of Buddhist civilization which could not be a Sinhala civilization as Sinhalese as a race evolved for recognition only in the 6 AD when the Sinhalese language achieved its language status in Sri Lanka.
A solemn duty therefore lies on the United Nations and UNHRC to recognize the genocide committed against the Tamils since 1948 which includes ongoing structural genocide. There is no dearth of evidences to confirm the genocide, which were all seen, reported and heard by United Nations UNHRC and the International Community, during the periods of pogroms in 1956, 1958 1971, 1977, 1983, 1987 and the genocidal war between the Sri Lankan Security Forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Rubbing salt to the wounds of Tamils, the Sinhala political parties are now united pursuing an anti-Tamil and hostile campaign vowing not to accept or grant the devolution and powers specified in the 13th Amendment which is an International Accord signed between Sri Lanka and India.
In addition, moves are underway to enact a new Constitution which will automatically guarantee the demise of the 13th Amendment. Besides, the impending passage of 20th Amendment in parliament with unfettered powers for the President over parliament, judiciary and civil service will empower and facilitate the speeding of the process of Sinhalisization and Buddhisization with hardly anyone making a successful challenge in courts or stall it through peaceful protests.
In this respect, it is relevant to quote the UN High Commissioner’s opening statement at UNHRC in the 45th Session in Geneva. ”I encourage the Council to give renewed attention to Sri Lanka in view of the needs to prevent threats to peace and reconciliation.” This clearly confirms the worsening human rights situation in Sri Lanka.
It has to be stated that the United Nations, UNHRC and International Community partly contributed to the sufferings of the Tamils adopting a wait and see and lethargic approach towards a defiant Sri Lanka.
The Tamil political parties and leaders also partly contributed to this predicament of Tamils displaying disunity, self-interest coupled with flip flopping and flirtations with Government having no agenda or ground map to mount united and coordinated nonviolent campaigns to put a break on the genocidal measures of the Government.
In view of the toxic political climate enveloping the traumatised and helpless Tamils, United Nations, UNHRC and International Community cannot remain complacent any more but are duty bound to take appropriate steps to right the wrongs and put a halt to the gradual extinction of Tamils through assimilation. Some of the possible steps which could be taken by UNHRC and United Nations are to:
1. Set up an independent international investigation unto war crimes and crimes against humanity etc. and calling for a UN supervised referendum in the North and East for the people of the land to decide their future.
2. Consider referring Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court.
3. Enforce mandatory political, economic and diplomatic sanctions. The visa ban on Army Commander Shavendra Silva, an alleged war criminal, must be followed further with similar bans by Western countries to show their commitments to rule of law, accountability and justice.
It is hoped that the United Nations, UNHRC and the International Community will rise to the occasion and ensure accountability, justice and rule of law to vindicate their credibility and reliability. Mere issuing statements of condemnations and concerns is like comforting an injured with words of consolation without providing the healing medicine.
In this respect, the Diaspora Tamils numbering more than one million should get together under one umbrella and form a Diaspora Tamils United Action Front and engage in active relentless campaigns with lobbying of political leaders in their respective countries employing pressure for follow up action against Sri Lanka on the question of genocide. Similarly the ten Tamil political parties and their leaders recently conducted a united fasting protest to mark the sacrifice of Thileepan. This precedent should followed to launch further agitations to advance the causes of Tamils to ensure their future and existence in Sri Lanka.
Words speak for themselves while actions speak for others.
*Thambu Kanagasabai, LLM [London] Former Lecturer in Law, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Eagle Eye / October 26, 2020
Mr. Thambu Kanagasabai,
There are two main groups if Demalu (aka Tamils after 1911); Ceylon Tamils in the North and Indian Tamils in Central highland. In addition, there are three pockets where there is a concentration of Demalu; Tirikunamale, Madakalapuwa and Colombo. In Yapanaya, there are two groups of Demalu based on caste; Vellala and Dalits. Also there are Demalu who are scattered all over the country. If there are grievances some of them could be common to all Demala people and some location specific. Although, Demala politicians and writers keep on repeating ‘Grievances of Tamils’, ‘Tamil Problem’, ‘National Problem’, ‘Ethnic Problem’, ‘Minority Problem’, they never provide a list of ‘Grievances’ and ‘Problems’. So, could you please provide a list of ‘Grievances’ and ‘Problems’ of Demala people that have continue to pile up and accumulated with no redress in sight from the Sri Lankan Government ruled by the majority Sinhalayo since Independence? At the moment they are floating in the air.
—-
“It need not be detailed again to list the grievances of Tamils which commenced in 1948 and continue to pile up and accumulate with no redress in sight from the Sri Lankan Governments ruled by the majority Sinhalese”
/
Anpu / October 26, 2020
Blind Eye,
How many kinds of sinhalease?
Salagam, Karava, Durava, ….
Where do they come from?
/
Buddhist1 / October 26, 2020
Eagle Eye, I am not sure what sort of an eye you have, it appears to me you have a Racist Eye. Calling Demalu is equal to calling Moda Sinhalaya. Also Sinhalese claim to Sri Lanka historically starts from Mahawamsa. If that is so Sinhalese should also believe their ancestor was a Lion. Is this rational thinking? No one needs this branding. Sri Lanka is a Multi Ethnic, Multi Language and Multi Language country. If we call it a Sinhala Buddhist country today what does it mean? Even to pass an amendment the Sinhala Buddhist Government needed Christian denomination votes and above all the ever attacked Muslim votes. This shows the so called Sinhala Buddhist Government cannot not survive without the Muslim and Christian votes. Unfortunately Cardinal Malcolm for the benefits he received did politics for Mahinda. Now he is quite and he even endorsed the Maha Sanga’s opposition against 20A.
If one has to go by history to brand a country, then the question arises from when do you start counting the history. Do you count from Mahawamsa which says
/
Buddhist1 / October 26, 2020
Contd..
ancestor is an animal or you go to the times prior to Vijaya where the Nagas lived. May be you do not know this Nagas still live in parts of India. So its better not to brand any one Demalu or Sinhala Moday, we all have to brand ourselves as Sri Lankans.
/
Lanka Canuck / October 27, 2020
Folks,
This Senile old coot, Eagle Eye continues to hallucinate (parroting his fabrications repeatedly). He is suffering from a disease called schizophrenia. The symptoms of Schizophrenia may vary depending on the individual but mostly delusions/distorted thinking, hearing voices, seeing things, and hallucinations are very common. The victims of schizophrenia can be very nasty but very rarely violent. The best example in this forum is Eagle Eye whose hallucinations include concocting fairy tales/fiction and then believing in his own fiction as gospel. This may have happened to him due to some reason during the 30 years conflict. He is burning out from his own idiotic and irrational blabbering and needs institutionalized treatment.
He’s crying for attention and I just cannot understand why people are reacting to his insane/dumb comments instead of ignoring him. I stopped reading his comments long ago. Please feel sorry for him and leave him alone so that he and a few lunatics who follow him can enjoy their hallucinations.
/
Lanka Canuck / October 27, 2020
Buddhist1
Appreciate your moderate comment/response. Just a small clarification.
The original word Tamil when imported into Sanskrit became Damila that later became Demada in Prakrit and Demala in Pali writings (adopted into the Sinhala language), and its plural term is Demalu (just like Sinhala and Sinhalu). Even the Tamils proudly refer to themselves as Tamilaa or Tamilichi, I cannot see anything wrong in Demalaa or Demalichi.
Damada is the most mentioned ethnic group in the ancient epigraphy of Sri Lanka. The inscriptions refer to Dameda Vishaka (Tamil merchant), Dameda Samana (Tamil householder), Dameda Navika (Tamil sailor), and so on. During Sena I (833-853) and Kassapa IV (899-914), there are epigraphic reference to Tamil as Demel-Kaballa (Tamil allotment), Demelat-valademin (Tamil lands), Demel-gam-bim (Tamil villages & lands), Demal-Kinigam, Demelin-hetihaya, and so on. The Sinhala Nampota dated to the 14th century AD suggests that the whole of Jaffna including parts of the modern Mullaitivu and Trincomalee districts as Demala-Pattanama (Tamil city). That is how the Tamils were referred to right from the beginning.
I cannot understand why some people consider/think that the term Demala/Demalu as derogatory? The term ‘Para or paradesi’ Demalu (which came into existence recently after the British brought Tamils from India to the Tea estates) is of course a derogatory term.
/
SJ / October 28, 2020
LC
Your etymological and historical analysis notwithstanding, the Sinhalese have for several centuries used the word “Demala’ with contempt. (Check if the Thais use any version of it with respect.)
Thus, Buddhist1 is justified in saying “Calling Demalu is equal to calling Moda Sinhalaya.” He knows what EE and the likes have in mind.
Literate Sinhalese chose to use Dravida (or more exactly Dravida janathaawa) as a polite reference to the Tamils.
/
old codger / October 28, 2020
L.C,
Languages change over time, and innocuous words acquire offensive meanings. Sinhalese themselves consider “demalaa” insulting, hence the trend nowadays to use “dravida” or even “Tamil”.
“Marakkalaya” as applied to Muslims is not complimentary nowadays, but it actually means a boat captain and is found in some Sinhala ge-names.
The term “paraya” is strangely enough applied to local dogs and not the expensive foreign breeds !
/
leelagemalli / October 27, 2020
Mr Bubddist u are a true buddhst. I m really proud of u. People like EE to promote ultra racism cant bring us anywhere but Evil Eye seems to have difficulty to relinquish and finally become a good human being. Buddha has never taught buddhists to just follow anyone’s ideology. Our people of EE nature would die slaves for sure. I DONT SEE RAJAPAKSHES AS BUDDISTS even if they wear the banner. They are born two destroy this island. 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎
/
GATAM / October 26, 2020
The world has forgotten Tamils after the death of Jayalalitha. Tamils have no nation and therefore nothing to offer world powers. An irreverent community in world affairs.
/
Stanley / October 26, 2020
But didn’t the Tamils defeat the ‘fourth largest army in the world’?
/
SJ / October 27, 2020
Stanley
They did, but with ‘a little help’ from their “friends” like Premadasa and JVP.
If the SL government remained neutral and the JVP did not stir anti-India emotions in the South, the LTTE would have been crushed.
What happened to this heroic army of the LTTE after Year 2001?
We forget international players. The US decided that it had enough of the LTTE; and India waited its turn to get back at the LTTE. Also the SL armed forces had developed reliable intelligence on the Vanni and developed Special Task Forces trained to combat guerilla methods.
*
Tamils can keep gloating emptily about their great military prowess until they perish as a people by isolating themselves from potential allies..
/
Ajith / October 26, 2020
GATAM,
The world or Tamil Nadu or India never forget Tamils but waiting for the opportunity. I think Buddhist Sinhala fundamentalism and 20th amendment has made the world to turn their eyes towards Tamils now. When circumstances changes everything changes. Tamils are more powerful than Sinhalese in the world. You don’t need a military power to win Srilankan military. Sri Lanka on the blink of going into a dictatorship and economic disaster. You all Sinhalese thought you don’t need Muslims but at last you surrendered to Muslims. Pathetic Buddhist Sinhala!
/
Stanley / October 27, 2020
LOL eternal song of the losers.
/
soma / October 27, 2020
Ajith
“Tamils are more powerful than Sinhalese in the world. “
Àcknowledged.
Ànd moreover Sinhalese have nowhere to go.
Happy!
There is one thing you forget.
Sri Lanka is an island.
Tamils within SL are held hostage by the Sinhalese who in turn àre held hostage by the làrger Tamil community in the world.
You see Mr Ajith it is a mutual hostage dràma.
As I always say, there is no way- ABSOLUTELY NO WAY- to punish the Sinhalese without Tamils facing a thousand times damaging reaction.
If you drop an atom bomb on Colombo more Tamil will die than Sinhalese ànd if you impose economic sanctions all the Tamils will go hungry before 20% of Sinhalese will go hungry.
Right?
You diaspora donkeys are totally unconcerned of the kith and kin you left behind when your swollen heads goes ego trips.
–
Soma
/
SJ / October 27, 2020
“You diaspora donkeys are totally unconcerned of the kith and kin you left behind when your swollen heads goes ego trips.”
Soma, will this not apply to the Sinhala diaspora as well?
/
Lanka Canuck / October 27, 2020
GATAM
Don’t worry, Pompeo is coming to town. If they don’t sign the controversial MCC, Uncle Sam will wake up the Tamils.
/
SJ / October 27, 2020
LC
“Uncle Sam will wake up the Tamils”— to do what?
For goodness sake, get real!
/
SJ / October 27, 2020
BTW
“Pompeo is coming to town” reminded me of “Santa Clause is coming to town”.
A little too early though for X’mas.
/
Lanka Canuck / October 28, 2020
SJ
Regret that you cannot appreciate ironic comments or rather unable to understand satire.
/
Native Vedda / October 27, 2020
GATAM
–
” Tamils have no nation and therefore nothing to offer world powers.”
–
What is Tamil Nadu then?
–
“The world has forgotten Tamils after the death of Jayalalitha.”
–
You know only the names of corrupt politicians.
–
“An irreverent community in world affairs.”
–
Can you name a reverent community?
I suppose my question may sound IRRELEVANT.
/
Eagle Eye / October 26, 2020
Mr.Thambu Kanagasabai,
As a lawyer, please tell us:
• What is it that the Sinhalayo are enjoying that the other communities are not enjoying because they are not Sinhala?
• What is it that the minorities do not enjoy because they are the minority which the majority enjoys because they are the majority?
• What is legally, constitutionally and legislatively given to the majority that is not given to the minorities?
• What is it that the Sinhala Buddhists are enjoying that the other communities are not enjoying because they are not Sinhala Buddhists?
/
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / October 26, 2020
Eagle Eye,
If you think so, why is the government reluctant to implement the 13th Amendment. Let them be given the land and police powers to the Provincial Council. Then you will see that there is unity in diversity. There are some more that can be mentioned.
/
Eagle Eye / October 26, 2020
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM,
The Government of Sri Lanka has given a special thing called ‘Thesawalamei’ to Tamils, which is a Malabar customary law that Vellala Tamils use for oppressing low caste Tamils (Dalits).
Low caste Tamils (Dalits) in Yapanaya told the Sub-committee on Power Sharing not to give Land and Police powers to NPC because they know what will happen. Dalits are the majority in Yapanaya. So the Government should listen to the voice of the majority.
/
Simon / October 26, 2020
Mr. AYATHURAY: “Let them be given the land and police powers to the Provincial Council”. What a proposal to a “Government” elected by supposed to be 98.5% “Literate Voters” who do not know “HOW”,&”WHY” to use that “Precious” tool in choosing a “Representative” body called the Legislature?. You are thinking of only “NPC”; but in the implementation, all the “PCs” will have to be “equipped” with your proposal. Give it and see what happens. Do I need to tell what happened to the monkey who was given a razor blade? Please think of the “BIG PICTURE”. We don’t want another “BLOOD BATH”.
/
S. C. Pasqual / October 26, 2020
UN High Commissioner’s opening statement at UNHRC in the 45th Session in Geneva.
– ”I encourage the Council to give renewed attention to Sri Lanka in view of the needs to prevent threats to peace and reconciliation.”
.
Peace – freedom from disturbance; tranquility.
Reconciliation – the restoration of friendly relations / the action of making one view or belief compatible with another.
.
Let’s stop Tamil Racists disturbing SL’s “peace and reconciliation”
/
Native Vedda / October 27, 2020
S. C. Passqual
–
“Let’s stop Tamil Racists disturbing SL’s “peace and reconciliation”
–
It’s a very good idea.
Tamils must listen to you.
–
Where is your learned leader Wimal Sangili Karuppan Weerawansa?
I was expecting him to stage a protest against Mike Pompeo’s official visit, threatening USA with sanctions, boycotting American brands such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, KFC, McDonalds and Google’s email service Gmail, ….. sleeping on runway blocking his official aircraft from landing on this soil.
–
Has he stopped demanding the return of Prime Minister of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam Visvanathan Rudrakumaran’s to this island ?
/
soma / October 26, 2020
The most serious indictment against India whose intelligence officers were in every nook and corner of Wanni and Jaffna during the war.
To say India was a silent bystander of a genocide of relatives of a section of her own people just 20km away until UN focused its radar many years later is a blatant insult to a civilized nation of most serious nature.
–
Soma
/
Native Vedda / October 28, 2020
Soma
–
It is good to read your typing, very refreshing, enthralling and educating.
–
“The most serious indictment against India whose intelligence officers were in every nook and corner of Wanni and Jaffna during the war.”
–
Not just in Wanni and Jaffna, but also in every ministry, army, navy, police, airforce, STF, LTTE, EPDP, TNA, JVP, SLFP, UNP, CP, ……………………………. Every ambitious politician, functionary, members of armed forces, political party, ….. is eager to work for Hindian.
–
You should find out from Wimal Sangili Karuppan how Somawansa and his many comrades escaped the wrath of Udugampola, Gota/Fonseka hit squad, Thadi Priyantha, …. and surfaced in Tamil Nadu? Where did Udugampola lived in exile?
–
“To say India was a silent bystander of a genocide of relatives of a section of her own people just 20km away until UN focused its radar many years later is a blatant insult to a civilized nation of most serious nature.”
–
Where were you when I mentioned the War crime and crime against humanity investigation should start from from New Delhi? It would be good to wake up time to time.
/
GATAM / October 26, 2020
One man’s grievances may be another man’s victories.
/
Buddhist1 / October 26, 2020
The downfall of minority issues today is basically there is no unity among minorities in Sri Lanka. Even the news is out that its Hakeem and may also be Badurdeen like Hakeem who asked their MPs to vote in favour of 20A. What a shameful act is that. These are the traitors who came to power with the Muslim votes which was in opposition to the present government but ended up for personal gains of the leaders who were elected switched sides letting down the voters. Acts like these always ends up in violence and if that happens again Hakeem should take the blame. I remember even Hakeem’s Father in Law Quddus did the same in the past when he was in politics jumping from one side to another. Shameless political family. Muslims should kick them all out. Time is ripe.
/
soma / October 27, 2020
Buddhist 1
All Tamil speaking people scattered across the island should forgo their differences in religion, caste or the date of arrival and unite to demand a SEPARATE Homeland.
–
Soma
/
Ajith / October 26, 2020
This is a very important time for Tamil politics to realise that parliamentary democracy will bring a solution to the Tamil National Problem. So, Tamils need a very strong political leadership and we don’t need political battle among political parties. We need a leader like Pirabhaharan to lead the political struggle of people with charisma and commitment. Sinhala people have selected a political leadership on the believe that their aspirations are achieved. Similarly Tamils should select a political leadership to deal with Sinhala political leadership. Sinhala political leadership is in a process of designing a constitution. We don’t need too many political leadership to fight for parliamentary seats. The objective of the Tamil political leadership is to achieve a peaceful democratic solution to ensure their safety, their identity, their economic welfare, and equality. We don’t need arms. we don’t need to be injustice, we only need people’s mandate. We need People’s unity to any struggle. It is up to the Sinhala political leadership to decide whether they need a united Sri Lanka or divided SriLanka or mutual respective Sri Lanka. If we united military power becomes powerless. Over the seven decades what Sri Lanka political leadership achieved? Nothing. They couldn’t move forward any single step. They lost more people than we lost. They lost economically than we lost. They lost more peace than we lost. They can’t loose anymore!
/
soma / October 27, 2020
Ajith
Àcknowledged.
We can’t lose anymore.
You need a leader like Prabhakaran.
If we lost more than you lost where is the problem?
–
Soma
/
Ajith / October 27, 2020
Soma,
Tell me how many Sinhalese (youths, military) lost during 1970 and 1989/90 JVP years? How many military personal lost in both JVP and LTTE extremism? Do you have any account of how many Sinhalese civilian killed by LTTE, JVP and Sinhala military?
Problem is understanding of the truth. Problem is your political leadership and religious leadership?
/
Native Vedda / October 28, 2020
soma
–
Aren’t you going to protest against Americans visit to this island?
I believe your learned Weerawansa might.
The only problem is I haven’t seen him for the past couple of days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OoFBWvVgHM
/
Lanka Canuck / October 27, 2020
Ajith,
Look at the Sinhalese, they are very well united as ‘Sinhala-Buddhists’. On the other hand, take a look at the Tamils, they discriminate each other not only by caste but also by region like the primitive tribes. For example, the Jaffna Tamils, Batticaloa Tamils, Vanni Tamils, Up-country Tamils, Colombo Tamils (different tribes with no unity among each other). Due to the discriminative policy among the Tamils, they lost the Tamil speaking Moor Muslims (mostly Tamil Muhammedans from South India), Tamil speaking Negombo Catholics (now Sinhalese), Tamil Paravars/Barathars, Tamil Colombo Chetties, Upcountry estate Tamils and so on. They all separated themselves or rather the Ceylon Tamils did not accept/absorb them. The Tamils need a visionary leader (not born yet) to unify them and make them a strong and powerful minority.
You are correct, over the last seven decades the Sri Lankan political leadership achieved nothing because they didn’t want to share the political and economic power with the minority Tamils who have also ruled the country (kings) during the early period. They forgot the basic rule/law, if you push the minority Tamils down the pallam, they will pull the majority Sinhalese also along with them and the downfall will be experienced by the whole country. Different political leaders may come and go but the same history will continue to repeat.
/
Ajith / October 27, 2020
Lanka Canuck,
It is true that there are differences within Tamil community but it is not true that there are no differences among Sinhala community. They have differences such as caste, regional, religious, status etc.. For examples Kandian Sinhalese consider as super caste than low country Sinhalese. You know most of the Buddhist Sinhala did not like Premadasa family because of their caste. So, other than caste all other differences are used by some opportunistic politicians . You should remember that majority of LTTE fighters are from Batticaloa and Vanni and TNA had almost all North Eastern MPs during the LTTE time. So, I agree with you Tamils need a visionary leader like Pirabhaharan to unite the people.
/
Lanka Canuck / October 28, 2020
Ajith,
Prabakaran was a ruthless leader and a total failure. If he had continued for another few decades, he would have reduced the Sri Lankan Tamils to the state of Veddas, The Tamils need a visionary leader (not born yet).
/
MyView / October 28, 2020
Yes everyone must realise the difference of short term and long term benefits and consequences for a solution. I agree that basic rule/law, if you push the minority Tamils down the pallam, they will pull the majority Sinhalese also along with them and the downfall will be experienced by the whole country. AND HAPPENING NOW.
The country is like a fabric woven with all its people and if some part of that fabric is torn, it effects the rest and the fabric sags.
But to get the long term benefit of a taut fabric, the future is far away in the present context of each thinking only of one’s rights and privileges.
Await the distant dawn – waiting for Godot ??
/
SJ / October 27, 2020
Ajith
“This is a very important time for Tamil politics to realise that parliamentary democracy will bring a solution to the Tamil National Problem.”
Should not the FP and ACTC have realized this by 1965 and 1949, respectively?
Parliamentary democracy will not solve any of the problems that hurt any Third World country.
/
Ajith / October 28, 2020
SJ,
I meant to “This is a very important time for Tamil politics to realise that parliamentary democracy will NOT bring any solution to the Tamil National Problem.”
I agree with you.
/
SJ / October 27, 2020
Ajith
“We need a leader like Pirabhaharan”
Do we– to hunt down rivals, suppress alternative points of view, and commit mass murder?
/
Ajith / October 28, 2020
Yes. Pirabaharan had lots of positives and few negatives.He is disciplined, committed charismatic and much better than Srilankan leaders.
/
Mallaiyuran / October 27, 2020
My thinking is there is only one way. Probably I conceived it from missing persons’ mothers’, today’s protest. They are using placards with American flag and UN State Secretary Pompeo’s picture and saying only America can find the answer for their missing ones. I don’t have to call them smartest, but they are experienced, because certainly it shows their past experience. They fell on Ranil’s feet when he visited; they fell on Mavai’s feet when he met them; they begged all Tamil politicians; they talked to many other foreign diplomats in their protest location. So now left out are US diplomats. So what Tamil leadership should do is they must get Mike Pompeo to meet them the way British PM David Cameron met the Northern refugees in their camps. Secretary Pompeo should meet them in Vanni and tell them directly what the position of America on their fate is. Nothing is going to be. But the mothers will not eat full stomach of food and sleep resting whole night. Like Hindus and Buddhist believe this is their fate. Only a influential hand have the power to tell the God, now enough is enough; excuse them and let them go, please.
/
Sugandh / October 29, 2020
The Tamil diaspora has the moral responsibility to give their utmost effort towards accountability and justice for the state’s atrocities and crimes inflicted at home.
–
However, with still much more to achieve 11 years after the war ended, it seems that the effort hasn’t been enough and hasn’t been reasonably effective. There needs to be serious soul searching to this regard. As the author has pointed out, unity and consensus on goals were lacking. Affiliation or identification with polarising organisations will have to be shed.
–
The author’s suggested action is certainly the foundation needed to have great impact;
“… form a Diaspora Tamils United Action Front and engage in active relentless campaigns with lobbying of political leaders in their respective countries employing pressure for follow up action against Sri Lanka on the question of genocide.”
–
It will be equally important for such a United Action Front to foster reconciliation and understanding across the island to encourage positive change without having to twist a lot of arms. Also, to this end, such a united front should ensure that the North and East Tamil citizens are allowed the free will to choose their destiny; then the current ground realities will factor in.
–
/