By Izeth Hussain –
Izeth Hussain
In my last article I argued that a sense of darkness could be the challenge that provokes the response of working earnestly to bring about the dawn, and further that since our ethnic minorities cannot all leave this island or be subjected to total genocide there is no alternative to our majority and the minorities learning to live together in some degree of peaceful accommodation. Regarding the external dimension of the problems facing us – the impending UNHRC meeting in Geneva – I argued that the key to what happens there lies with India. Obviously the Government should try to attain an understanding with India to help us out.
As for the internal dimension, I argued that rather than think in terms of a political solution as something that follows from Constitutional changes and the setting up of certain institutions we should envisage it as something that comes about through a process of organic growth. At present the TNA wants much more than 13A, while the Government is only willing to give much less. Suppose both agree to put all that aside and work earnestly to make a success of 13A. Much can be done through it to meet the needs of the people of the North at the grass roots level. The success of the NPC could be emulated by the other PCs, and that could be enormously beneficial for the country as a whole. Suppose also that 18A is repealed and we have a fully functioning democracy. A process of organic growth would be set in motion resulting in a political solution. There is really nothing fanciful about what I am outlining here, but we don’t really expect it to happen. Why not? I concluded my article by pointing out that to answer that question we must do much rethinking on the fundamentals of our ethnic imbroglio.
At the time I sent in my last article for publication I had not seen NPC Chief Minister Wigneswaran’s address to a meeting organized by the University Grants Commission on February 13. Its contents showed a broad convergence with some of the views sketched out in the preceding paragraph. He made a distinction between a post-conflict situation and a post-war situation. In the latter the focus is on taking corrective action over the ravages caused by the thirty-year war. By the former he means the conflictual relations between the Sinhalese and the Tamils which long antedate the war between them, and which require a political solution. He clearly regards the problem of dealing with the ravages of war as something that is quite distinct from the problem of reaching a political solution. In effect, he is saying that the TNA is willing to put aside for the time being the problem of a political solution and focus on making a success of 13A.
Of course the two processes – working towards a political solution and making a success of 13A – don’t preclude each other and the two processes can go on concurrently. What is striking is that he now seems to be unambiguously positive about what can be achieved through the NPC. Back in December he said this in the course of his Budget speech: “It should be understood by all clearly that the present Provincial Council cannot be a vehicle of change for the betterment of the Tamil speaking people of the North and East”. There is nothing comparably negative in the present address, and his approach seems to be eminently practical. He emphasizes that the same programme for betterment cannot be applied to all the Provinces because the needs of the people in the war-ravaged North are very special, and accordingly a separate programme has to be worked out for them. He recognizes that the Government does not have the resources and the skills to meet the very special needs of the people in the North, and therefore recourse must be had to the resources and skills of the Tamil diaspora. I must note before passing on that in the concluding part of his address he emphasized the need to “Counter the false propaganda carried out in the Sinhalese and English media by explaining that the Northern polity is committed to non-violence and a political settlement within a united Sri Lanka”.
There is one reason, above all, that will practically compel the TNA to try to make a success of 13A. It has been vociferous, like so many others, against the Government’s mistaken strategy in focusing on infrastructure development in the North instead of focusing on the people’s needs at the grass roots level. Furthermore, that strategy was given a sound beating at the NPC elections. The Tamils in the North would therefore expect the TNA to prioritize the utilization of 13A to meet the people’s needs over everything else, including working towards a political solution. There is no way that the TNA can evade that prioritization.
What we seem to be witnessing – at least in theory – is the coming into play of part of my model for a solution of the ethnic problem: not Constitutional and institutional change but a process of organic growth through making 13 A a success, plus a fully functioning democracy. But we don’t really expect the process to lead to a solution. Why not? The mindset of the presently dominant Sinhalese power elite, a mindset that is neo-Fascist and racist, is not prepared to see the minorities flourish through their own initiative, though it is prepared to provide largesse to the minorities – as recognized by CVW in his address – to the extent thought fit and proper by the owners of this island, the Lion Race. Furthermore, CVW envisages a crucial role for the Tamil diaspora in making 13A a success. But the dominant power elite tend to see the Tamil diaspora as the posthumous embodiment of the LTTE, and the prospect of that diaspora contributing to any kind of Tamil success in Sri Lanka will only enrage that power elite. Under the present set-up – and unless President MR changes course – we cannot expect acquiescence in much more than a limited range of success for 13A.
I concluded my last article by pointing out that we must do much rethinking on the fundamentals of our ethnic imbroglio. We have had a very long period of “ethnic conflict” – according to the conceptualization of CVW – followed by thirty years of war, followed by four years of peace, and instead of sighting a political solution and ethnic reonciliation round the corner, we have started talking about the possible outbreak of yet another war. Obviously a rethinking of the fundamentals – including a new thinking that questions the older thinking on the subject – should now be regarded as an urgent desideratum on the ethnic front. The conclusion of CVW’s address – in a further convergence – had this: “As Einstein said fundamental problems we face today cannot be solved by the same level of thinking we were at when we created it. What is needed now is a shift in paradigm and you are best placed to provide it”.
What I am envisaging is that a political solution could emerge through what I call an organic process: by making a success of 13A, plus a fully functioning democracy. Both have to be seen as going together, as being integrally connected, because unless the Government is fully democratic it will not allow a success to be made of 13A – for the reasons that I have indicated above. Furthermore, a substantial proportion of the minorities will remain outside the North-East, and their needs and legitimate aspirations can only be met through a fully functioning democracy. I would advocate that a fully functioning democracy in a multi-ethnic society should explicitly acknowledge the rights of the minorities. That requires a recognition that democracy involves much more than the will of the majority, a problem that was sorted out at the very inception of democracy way back in the eighteenth century but which the Sinhalese racists have still to learn. I would advocate further that in Sri Lanka we bring about a paradigm shift in which we think of our so-called ethnic problem in terms of a paradigm of racism, and that a fully functioning democracy requires special legislation and institutions to safeguard the rights and interests of the minorities.
But all that – as well as other prescriptions to solve the ethnic problem – will not amount to much more than utopian fantasizing with little or no relation to reality unless there is the will to bring about the necessary changes. That means that attitudinal changes have to be brought about. As a first step we have to stop demonizing each other. In an earlier article I proposed the following: the Sinhalese acknowledge that after the period of State terrorism from 1977 to 1983 the Tamils had either to acquiesce in their own dehumanization or take to the gun; the Tamils acknowledge that they made the continuation of the war unavoidable by rejecting every proposal for a solution on the basis of devolution, and making a farce of the peace process; the Sinhalese recognize that the LTTE was not just a terrorist group but represented a nationalist movement of the neo-Fascist variety.
I will now cite a piece of demonization that has played major havoc with our ethnic relations. I refer to the Mahawamsa mindset according to which this island belongs to the Sinhalese who have a very special relationship with it, a belief that has allegedly made ethnic accommodation impossible. It is seen as an essential part of the Sinhalese psyche that has persisted unchanged down the millennia, but it is in truth the product of a racist essentialising habit of mind. This notion of the Mahawamsa mindset was probably behind the Tamil insistence in the past on either Eelam or a wide measure of devolution amounting to a confederal arrangement. It has probably contributed in no small way to our ethnic tragedy.
The truth in reality is that nations and peoples do have characteristics that can persist over long periods, but they can change all the same. I will cite a convincing illustrative example. The traditional image of the Germans all over Europe was that of romantic dreamers, poets and musicians, with nothing martial or aggressive about them. That changed abruptly after 1870 when German troops sliced through France like a knife through butter, to the vast surprise of the whole of Europe including the Germans themselves. The image of the romantic dreamer was transformed into that of the martial and aggressive Prussian, an image that persisted until after the Second World War. Now the German is seen as a peaceful democrat, on the whole a friendly force for good in the contemporary world. Nothing sublunary can resist the process of change. So, it makes sense for us to work for attitudinal changes – disregarding the Mahawamsa mindset – in struggling for dawn on the ethnic front.
Robert.R / February 22, 2014
“What we seem to be witnessing – at least in theory – is the coming into play of part of my model for a solution of the ethnic problem”
There are unfortunately too many people who want to claim “credit” for anything.
Izeth is NO different !!!
victory has many fathers but defeat is an orphan-JFK
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Amarasiri / February 22, 2014
Mr. Issat Hussein,
Yes. There is am Ethnic Problem. The Para-Problem. It is the Problem of the Para, the para-deshi, the foreigner.
According to the Native Veddah terminology, they are Aethho, our people and others, non-Aethho, called para-deshi or paras.
So we have para-Sinhala, para-Demala, para-Muslima , Parangio, Portugese and Dutch, and English, Para-Sudda, and other paras. The Ethnic problem is between and among the paras, in addition to the caste problems that is within the Paras.
Expose the facts of Sinhala Mahanama Buddist Racism and Imaginations and show that it is NOT Buddhism. Show that the Sinhala are para like the Tamils, as far as the native Veddah are concerned. The Tamils generally call the Sinhala (Mahanama Monk) Buddhists, racists. Now both, Sinhala and Tamil, have data to support each other’s racism assertion. This may explain why there are hardly any Tamil Buddhists in Lanka, whereas in India, every state has a few percent Buddhists ( non-Mahanama Buddhists). This is truly the curse of Lanka, that prevents in forming an egalitarian society.
There is a dire need to get the Para-Sinhala, Para-Demala and other Paras to accept the Native Veddah’s assertion that they are Paras, and further that they are racists. and behave in an civilized and egalitarian manner. If they cannot, need to leave the Native Veddah Land, to wherever they came from, India etc.
In Alcoholics Anonymous, one of the first things they do is to get the Alcoholic to admit that he has an Alcoholic Problem
The other is the separation of Church, Temple. Mosque and State.
The Tamils chasing the Sinhala and Muslims (Tamil speaking) from Jaffna and the Northern Province, factual data, can be interpreted as Tamils are racists. The word para, para-deshi, probably means foreigner or stranger, who does not belong to the land. So, para-Demala means foreign Tamil, as opposed to Demala, Tamil. So let us see who the Para-Deshis are in Lanka. They are commonly known as Kalla-Thoni, or Illegal-Boats.
So who are the Para-Deshis, the Kalla-Thonis and Illegal Boat People in Lanka. The land of Lanka belongs to the Native Veddahs. They walked across the land bridge when the sea levels were low. They are the true natives of Lanka. Everybody else is a Para-Deshi, the Kalla-Thonis and Illegal Boat People Kallathoni or Illegal.
This list includes:
1. The Para-Bengalis , (the Para-Sinhala)
2. The Para-Kalingas, (the Para-Sinhala)
3. The Para-Orissans ( the Para-Sinhala)
4. The Para-Tamils (Para-Demalas)
5. The Para-Malayalams ( The Para-Karavas)
6. The Para-Yonas and the Para-Muslims, Para-Arabs and Para-Persians.
7. The Para-Portugese(Parangi) and the Para-Kaapiris.
8. The Para-Dutch(Parangi)
9. The Para-Malays
11. The Para-English. Para-Sudda
12. The Para-Chinese and the other Kallathonis, the Illegals.
They all should get back to their Native Lands and leave Lanka to the Native Vedda who are not Para.
Amarasiri
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Izeth Hussain / February 24, 2014
I did not make a prediction and claim credit for it. I wrote about a “convergence” of views, which is not the same thing. You have missed the point
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Izeth Hussain / February 24, 2014
I did not make a prediction and claim that it has come true. I wrote about a “convergence” of views. Not the same thing. You have missed the point
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Fathima Fukushima / February 22, 2014
There is no ethnic problem in SL.
Stop looking at problems from the racist point of view.
That is the solution.
All are humans.
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Kiri Yaka / February 22, 2014
Well said Fthima,
“the racist point of view “
is not though the epitome of this ?
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lal / February 22, 2014
The writer is hallucinating; the victory of the TNA is due to the hatred of Tamils towards the Sinhalese, and not because the govt focussed on infrastructure development at the expense of “peoples needs at grass roots level”. Which ever way the govt prioriticed development, the political maniacs within the TNA would demonise the govt’s efforts to gain advantage. I don’t think the govt can change the prevailing “Tamil mindset” of hatred towards the Sinhalese. Hence, the govt has little choice in delivering prescriptions to problems with less regard to opinions of Tamil politicians. Masses will eventually come to terms with the reality.
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Nettabomman / February 22, 2014
Where did this man Hussain pick up “Tamils acknowledge they made the war unavoidable by rejecting EVERY proposal for a solution on the basis of Development and making a farce the peace process” This disingenuous assertion can only spring from a sick and mischievous mind unwilling and ignorant of recent Tamil historical events in the island. Tamils do not need such warped minds as referees. The Tamil position has been gradually understood not only by the outside world but many in the Sinhala side as well. Why does not Hussain read the
born-again version of the Ven. Sobitha Thero and gather some knowledge.
As to your comments on what goes as the Mahawansa mentality, it is not entirely wrong so long as the Sinhala part of the island is concerned. They are entitled to their majoritarian line of thinking in respect of bogus claimants of recent origin. But there has always been a Tamil Nation in the island – a majority in their own areas – to whom this does not apply.
Equally unacceptable is Hussain’s foolish claim “the Tamil diaspora is a posthumous embodiment of the LTTE” I expect this ignoramus has taken note of last week’s judgement in a Canadian Court in favour of the Canadian Tamil Congress for similar defamation by yet another Sri Lankan State favourite of questionable integrity.
A study of Hussain’s recent articles on the National Question in these pages reveal he merely rehashes his arguments, some of which are fiercely contested by readers, and yet the man carries on regardless – occasionally spewing venom on those who disagree with him. Tamils certainly need scholars and the learned to offer genuine solutions to the decades-old issue. But we certainly do not wish warped and jaundiced minds to complicate issues with their communally prejudiced
slants.
Nettabomman
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Izeth Hussain / February 25, 2014
This fellow Nettabomman has chosen to be extremely and gratuitously insulting. So a courteous reply on my part would be out of place. I must first ask why the hatred, the extreme hatred, shown in his response. My article was not of a polemical order inviting such a response. Among the terms used by him are the following – disingenuous, sick and mischievous, unwilling and ignorant,warped, spewing venom.
Whatever the explanation for such extreme hatred, it seems to have prevented him from understanding the plain English in which I wrote. He quotes, with some errors, the following sentence from my article: “the Tamils acknowledge that they made the continuation of the war unavoidable by rejecting every proposal for a solution on the basis of devolution,and making a farce of the peace process”. This sentence has made him explode into rage. The truth is that he has quoted me completely out of context. I was arguing that attitudinal changes are required,for which purpose both sides must acknowledge certain things, and the Tamils must acknowledge that they made the continuation of the war unavoidable. I was not stating that the Tamils do acknowledge that fact – which would be absurd – but that they must do so. Most people would acknowledge today that the war need not have continued if the Tamil side had accepted the CBK devolution proposals offered between 1994 and 2000. Also, most people would accept that it was the LTTE which made the peace process a farce. One may disagree, but what is there in all that to provoke such intense hatred. It is not unwarranted to pose the question: Is this fellow entirely okay in the upper storey?
That question would certainly seem to be warranted when one reads the following from his response: “Equally unacceptable is Hussain’s foolish claim ‘the Tamil diaspora is a posthumous embodiment of the LTTE'”. Again he has misquoted me shockingly. What I wrote was this: “But the dominant power elite tend to see the Tamil diaspora as the posthumous embodiment of the LTTE …”. It is not I but the dominant power elite which holds that view of the Tamil diaspora. Again his hatred has made him misread the plain English that I wrote.
Those are his charges against me, and unbiased readers will see those charges as ridiculous. His hatred has driven him to an irrationality that verges on lunacy. Why? I relate his response to some other responses to my earlier articles showing a comparable hatred and irrationality verging on lunacy. That hatred cannot be explained on personal grounds or on grounds of professional rivalry.The probable explanation is racism.
Nettabomman, I charge that you are a Tamil anti-Muslim racist, and I advise you not to make an ass of yourself. – Izeth Hussain
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Nettabomman / February 27, 2014
I will not add to the exceptions I took to Hussain’s unwarranted
attacks against the established Tamil position in the National Question. My point is made – unambiguously. The only comment I wish to make is I did nothing for Hussain to go bonkers. He was already far too gone by the time I made my comments. The many verbal duels he engages in, where he defecates from his large supply of invective, with many others in this blog is proof of this. The poor senile badly needs medical attention.
Nettabomman
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Izeth Hussain / February 28, 2014
You say that you did nothing to make me go bonkers. I quoted several extremely insulting remarks that you made about me. Can you deny that?
I pointed out that you twice misquoted me shockingly. You haven’t answered those charges. You can’t. I believe that your mind is so full of hatred that you can’t understand my plain straightforward English.
I must emphasize that in every case where I have made strong replies, it has been in response to extremely insulting and abusive attacks on me. What is all this boiling hatred about?
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justice / February 22, 2014
TNA should be allowed to have what happens in other PCs to happen in the NPC too – no need to talk about 13/A plus or minus.
Is this too much to ask?
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Kiri Yaka / February 22, 2014
” As a first step we have to stop demonizing each other “. I disagree – for we are.
This will be illustrated in great detail in Geneva, thanks partly to the Tamil Expat demons who sent their kids to Eaton while the sent other Tamil kids to hell, but now these educated selves will be sitting side by side with the prosecutors leaving the yakkas defenseless and naked.
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Ramany K / February 22, 2014
“At present the TNA wants much more than 13A”
So far TNA hasnt said anything concrete about the political solution to the ethnic conflict.In India ,Sammanthan said recently that they want something like Indian model.Suresh Premachandran says federal solution.Sivajilingam says confederation.
I would like to recall the conversation took place in 1985 between Balasingam who was in India and Thileepan who was in Jaffna.
T.Annai,are we going for talks?over.
B..Yes,we are going,over.
T.We told the our people that that the government wont give anything,over.
B.We are going with some demands,over.
T.What if the government agrees,over?
B.WE WILL PUT ANOTHER DEMAND,over.
The important thing to note here is WE WILL PUT ANOTHER DEMAND.Even if you offer confederation or whatever in golden platter,TNA is not going to accept it.If they are really for a political solution,they should have accepted Indo-Srilankan accord.Number of LTTE cadres killed before arrival of the IPKF was 654.Number of people killed wont exceed five thousand.Had the Tamil leaders accepted the accord,thousands of lives could have been saved.What is the point of asking for international inquiry after our people being killed.Can anyone say that the Tamil leaders acted with foresight? No.The truth is,Tamil problem is TNA’s political capital.They dont want the Tamil problem solved.
Even in the last NPC election,the Tamil leaders said”vali thanthavarkalukku vali aetpaduththuvom”.That means,we will give pain to those who gave us pain.Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth mentality will never bring peace and harmony in Srilanka.
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ela kolla / February 22, 2014
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Safa / February 22, 2014
Certainly 13A must be implemented. There is a lot of mistrust between the parties that needs to be overcome. Mindsets are not inherited through DNA, these are inculcated through misinformation and indoctrination.
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Thiru / February 22, 2014
Izeth Hussain,
Well said, at last you realize the real cause of the ethnic/religious problem in Sri Lanka is the Mahavamsa mind set of the Sinhala Buddhists.
This has to change peacefully, or violently as in the case of Nazi Germany, for peaceful coexistence of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and other religious groups.
Sooner it is done by the international community the better it is, as it has failed for 66 years to achieve this end.
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Thiru / February 22, 2014
“Sooner it is done by the international community the better it is, as it has failed for 66 years to achieve this end.”
“it” in above refers to Sri Lanka state.
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Davidson Panabokke / February 22, 2014
”it makes sense for us to work for attitudinal changes”:
instead of helping the war-ravaged people this President is willing to pay PR firms to lie for him.
The dawn is very far off.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / February 22, 2014
We should first know the areas/ subjects in which the elected NPC is having effective influence and control. from what I understand the NPC members and ministers are only making statements, cutting ribbons and passing resolutions . I have heard that the public servants consider them as only of nuisance value. Can the NPC initiate and implement programs and projects of its own in any area that is within its domain as per the 13th amendment? What has the NPC done of a substantive nature? If not, why? Will the CM make a definitive statement spelling out details of progress made or the lack of it, in all areas under his purview?
Mr. Izeth Hussain, your next article on this subject has to address these issues with much more specificity.
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
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Davidson Panabokke / February 23, 2014
”We should first know the areas/ subjects in which the elected NPC is having effective influence and control”:
R.Sampanthan, TNA leader, addressed parliament on 14 December 2013:
” Minister for Economic Development told Northern Provincial Council (NPC) election campaign meetings that PTF would be transferred to the elected Provincial council. But so far it has not happened. In fact there is no move to do so. On the contrary, the Secretary of PTF sent a letter to Mr Subinay Nandy, Head of UN Humanitarian Operations that PTF would continue to function in 2014 as in previous years with copies to several officials but not a copy to the Chief Minister. What is the purpose of the Northern Provincial Council Election being held and a Chief Minister being elected by the people if, after the Election is held, this type of letter is going to be sent in regard to work pertaining to relief, rehabilitation and services to the affected people, the displaced people?” – Colonization Schemes: What Did The B-C Pact Say? 16 December 2013, https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/colonization-schemes-what-did-the-b-c-pact-say/
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / February 23, 2014
My comment was directed towards eliciting answers regarding specific programs of the NPC and what is happening to them p. Example, what is the program of action of the NP education minister or the agriculture minister in point form? What attempts have been made to implement them? What are the obstacles? Where do the problems lie? For instance, do national policy and the national ministry of education prevent the provincial ministry of education introducing a new curriculum for Tamil as a subject from grade-1 up? Can it introduce a new subject in schools to teach morals and culture through Tamil literature- Thirikural, Auyayar’s poetry, Naladiyar etc. ? If not why?
Dr. RN
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Izeth Hussain / February 24, 2014
It is generally known that up to now precious little or nothing has been done. I don’t want to speculate on the reasons. What seems to me crucially important is that CVW’s address struck a very positive note. I take that together with the objective factor that the people in the North will expect, and indeed demand, that the NPC take effective action to meet their needs. The outcome could be positive – Izeth Hussain
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Bensen Burner / February 22, 2014
This paper by Hussain makes far more sense than the one previous. The question is whether there is a real dawn on the ethnic front or is it just an illusion. In response to CVW’s comment Hussain says: “Of course the two processes – working towards a political solution and making a success of 13A – don’t preclude each other and the two processes can go on concurrently”. this is very true. Further in relation to the current German attitude he says:”So, it makes sense for us to work for attitudinal changes – disregarding the Mahawamsa mindset – in struggling for dawn on the ethnic front”. The question is in view of the centuries old Mahavamsa mindset in a racist state or in an environment of State racicism who will work towards this attitudinal change? Bensen
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Ajith / February 22, 2014
First, the islanders should recognize that the political culture developed since independence from British took ethnic dimension and it is the fundamental for all the ills of the nation. All other factors including the LTTE, war, war crimes, genocide are outcomes of the fundamental issue of ethnicizing the politics. Competition for Power within Sinhala politics made the way for ethnic politics and the victims were Tamil speaking people. Even after so many blood sheds the trend of ethnic politics on the increase. Internally, there is no way or no mechanism to change that trend or stop it. The regime change or change in power will not change in mentality and attitude of the Sinhalese. 13, 13+, 13-, 15+ are not going to work under a unitary system because the fundamentalism is well rooted within Sinhala Buddhist community. The experience of the past seven decades proves that only a powerful opposition from Tamils can stop the trend of Sinhala fundamentalism. LTTE may have failed keeping that powerful strength due to unavoidable circumstances but Tamils can redevelop that strong strength with the ongoing international changes.
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ramona therese fernando / February 22, 2014
All forms of the 13A can work well. The key is National Taxation! And tax rate should be same for all provinces. One might say that the North needs more funds for post-war development. However all that has already been done by Gosl since 2009 (viz. infrastructure). So henceforth, all monies brought into the country by Thamil diaspora or otherwise, shall be subject to central national taxation. Furthermore, to retain one’s Lankan citizenship, global capital gains taxation should also be implemented.
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Thanga / February 22, 2014
The Thamil leadership was right in rejecting the 13th Amendment. The 13th Amendment vests all executive power on the Governor appointed by the President. The NPC cannot even appoint a peon. What the 13 A does is to give certain powers to the NPC with the right hand and takes them back with the left hand. Under the 13th Amendment, the powers of government and administration of each Province have been divided into three categories. List of the 9th schedule of the Constitution contains subjects over which Provincial Councils have exclusive jurisdiction. Parliament can enact laws on any of those subjects only by a 2/3 majority. List III or concurrent list contains subjects where Provincial Councils have common jurisdiction with the government of Sri Lanka. List II or reserved list contains subjects where the Sri Lankan government has exclusive jurisdiction. The government is refusing to implement fully powers which will devolve Police and Public Order and Land and Land Settlement on the NPC. The Provincial Councils in the south although vested with these powers, have no appetite or necessity to or interest in exercising them. Such problem exists only in the NPC because it is a Thamil dominated (93%) Council. The Sinhala dominated government thinks devolving police and land powers is a stepping stone towards self determination. This mistrust has no basis. The NPC can be dissolved by the President at any time. The Sinhalese extremists are happy that their writ now runs through the entire island thanks to the unitary constitution handed over by the British. They don’t want to lose that hegemonic grip even at the cost of ethnic peace, economic development and prosperity. As for the query by Dr. Rajasingham he is right in describing that the “NPC members and ministers are only making statements, cutting ribbons and passing resolutions.” As for “Can the NPC initiate and implement programs and projects of its own in any area that is within its domain as per the 13th amendment?” The answer is no because of poor funding to a province devastated by 30 years of war. For example what can the NPC do with the paltry allocation of Rs.1, 876 million for capital expenditure for the entire province? That works out to Rs.375 per district. With Rs.1, 876 million the NPC can construct only 17 km of road! NPC has asked the government approval to raise funds abroad. The government is sitting on it. With a hostile Military Governor and an un-cooperative Chief Secretary, both owing allegiance to the President who appointed them, the Chief Minister and NPC have an uphill task. Fortunately the people who elected them understand their predicament.
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Sengodan. M / February 23, 2014
The biggest obstacle is that the Sinhala modayas will never be able to get rid of their Mahawansa mindset.
Sengodan. M
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Mallaiyuran / February 23, 2014
“The truth in reality is that nations and peoples do have characteristics that can persist over long periods, but they can change all the same. I will cite a convincing illustrative example. The traditional image of the Germans all over Europe was that of romantic dreamers, poets and musicians, with nothing martial or aggressive about them. That changed abruptly after 1870 when German troops sliced through France like a knife through butter, to the vast surprise of the whole of Europe including the Germans themselves. The image of the romantic dreamer was transformed into that of the martial and aggressive Prussian, an image that persisted until after the Second World War. Now the German is seen as a peaceful democrat, on the whole a friendly force for good in the contemporary world. Nothing sublunary can resist the process of change. So, it makes sense for us to work for attitudinal changes – disregarding the Mahawamsa mindset – in struggling for dawn on the ethnic front.”
You brought in here a good example of Germanians. Then you betrayed yourself – unfortunately that is your style of writing. Germanians did not change them-self. At least, two times, the international countries had to get together and teach them to behave properly with two world wars. But for the Mahavamsa Modayas you are advocating a simple organic growth. Yes; Mahavamsa Moyadas will also change, but after the UNHRC find way to come to the country. This will equate them with Germanias. That is, the first India invaded, but it did not work. They have forgotten about the Indo-Lanka pack. But, when international countries come in, Mahavamsa Modays will be fixed like Germanias, once and for ever. Germanians learned to behave only after East and West were separated. Mahavamsa Modayas will also learn only after North and South are separated.
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Izeth Hussain / February 24, 2014
What on earth are you talking about? You write “You brought in here a good example of Germanians. Then you betrayed yourself – unfortunately that is your style of writing”. How have I betrayed myself? I wrote that after the Second World War the Germans came to be seen as peaceful democrats, no longer as aggressively martial Prussians. I said nothing about the process whereby that change came about. Of course it came about because of defeat in the Second World War. Did I write anything that even implies that that was not the case?
Earlier I wrote that national characteristics persist over long periods, “but they can change all the same”.I said nothing about the processes whereby they can change. I certainly said nothing to preclude the possibility of change through war. You have misread me because of a gigantic prejudice. What is that prejudice about?
I will tell you. You write that the “Mahawamsa modayas” will change only through the power exerted by external forces, just like the Germans. You seem to be unaware that change can take place also through internal processes. An example is the progress of the American blacks. They have come a long way from slavery to having Obama in the White House. That was not due to external compulsion.
Your view that the Sinhalese will change only through external compulsion is the product of an essentialising habit of mind that is a defining characteristic of the racist. The gigantic prejudice you have displayed in misreading me shows that you are an anti-Muslim racist. I charge further that racists like you who rejected the offers of devolution from 1994 to 2000 because of an anti-Sinhalese racist stereotype are responsible for the deaths of scores of thousands of innocent Tamils.
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Viththakan / February 26, 2014
Mr. Hussein, let me quote here what you say and analyse it:
“Your view that the Sinhalese will change only through external compulsion is the product of an essentialising habit of mind that is a defining characteristic of the racist”
What kind of nonsense is that?! Is “essentialising” something from the vast sea of data at one’s disposal considered a bad characteristic? Could you point me in the right direction to the socio-psychological theory that arrives at the automatic conclusion that someone who considers another as “intractable” is essentially a racist?
Also, you need to understand that external compulsion is an accepted norm of international humanitarian laws, hence the trials of Nuremberg, of Serbs in the Hague, the Special Tribunal on Rwandan’ genocide and so on. The idea is institutionalized in the form International Criminal Court, in case you haven’t herad about it. And, not only that! Some countries like Canada will try anyone with “crime against humanity” record, under their own law if he ever steps into their territory. So, please try to understand that compulsion of the “men of an intractable disposition” to comply with international norms is an internationally accepted practice.
“The gigantic prejudice you have displayed in misreading me shows that you are an anti-Muslim racist”
This is amazing! How did Mallaiyooran find out that you are a Muslim? And how did you find that he is an “anti-Muslim” racist. I couldn’t discern any of that from his writing. You must be smoking the wrong kind of funny cigar. If disagreeing democratically and openly with one “Izeth Hussein” can make another decent person an “anti-Muslim”, count me in too, but we are not the ones who keep destroying Mosques and other properties of Muslim heritage in the South of Sri Lanka. That is being done by your convivial friends who have displayed a tendency to molest anything that moves or doesn’t move since historical times.
“I charge further that racists like you who rejected the offers of devolution from 1994 to 2000 because of an anti-Sinhalese racist stereotype are responsible for the deaths of scores of thousands of innocent Tamils.”
That’s gibberish of the volcanic kind found only inside Sri Lanka. Are you still living in Sri Lanka? Do you walk “straight up” or ”upside down”? Do you ever read what is being said in all respectable international media about what’s happening inside Sri Lanka, not just to Tamils, but to all decent people! Applying your own guidelines and definition alone, you are a racist. As simple as that!
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Izeth Hussain / February 28, 2014
Viththakan – you evidently know nothing about race theory. One of the acknowledged experts in that field Taguieff defines essentialism as follows (in my translation): “Mode of thought which consists in attributing to all the members of a group, and tendentiously to them alone, certain characteristics, explaining them by the nature and essence of the group (by their natural dispositions) rather than by situational factors”. Mallaiyuran’s characterisation of the “modaya” Sinhalese as incapable of change by themselves declares M’s shockingly blatant racism.
Thereafter you write insultingly about the ICC and external compulsion in a paragraph that is totally irrelevant. My point is that a people can change through external compulsion or internally. You mustn’t waste my time by being irrelevant and insulting – “in case you haven’t heard about it” referring to some things that everyone knows.
Why did I accuse him of being an anti-Muslim racist? The fact that he is undoubtedly a shocking racist leads to that question. More specifically, why did he write “Then you betrayed yourself – unfortunately that is your style of writing”.I have shown that in my last article the charge of betraying myself is absurd. Can he show that that is my style of writing in my earlier articles? Nonsense. There is hatred behind that remark. Why? Nothing personal and no professional rivalry. It could be anti-Muslim racism, couldn’t it?
You say that it is not you – evidently meaning Tamils – who keep destroying mosques etc. Does that preclude the possibility that some Tamils could be racist?
Then you say that that is being done by my “convivial friends”. What are you talking about, man? I am a Muslim. That was done by mobs led by Buddhist monks.I wrote several articles berating the Government over the anti-Muslim hate campaign and action, pointing the finger at the Defense Ministry. You are labouring under a gigantic prejudice. Is it anti-Muslim prejudice?
Re my charge about rejection of devolution offers, you have no argument. You abuse.Go away. Don’t waste my time.
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Mallaiyuran / March 1, 2014
Izeth Hussain has a habit of twisting and betraying the facts so it is difficult to clearly identify the situations when he misunderstand them too. So, Let me clarify this first. Even though I am going to go ahead and explain it, in this particular situation, still I am holding Izeth Hussain for purposefully twisted my “Mahavamsa Modaya” wording to call me an anti- Muslim. “Sinhala Modaya” is a phrase is available only in Sinhala, and basically, in the time of the past somewhere, it was coined by Sinhalese wisemen as a self-criticism phrase. This would have been used by village old wisemen to correct youngsters, village leaders and so on. As an outsider of this culture and by your claim as fully a westernised person you are, it had for you to recognize that there are many other phrases like these in Tamil too, associating their language, villages, religion and like others. This phrase is not available in English and never attempted to properly translate into Tamil. So, a non-Sinhalese person when he /she uses this phrase on its original version, he or she also can use it to criticize Sinhalese on a useful discussion, without twisting or re-coining in another way to indicate if he or she had a bad intentions of his/her immoral purpose. Then it is perfectly ok and it cannot be used to name call that person as an anti-Muslim. Though using it cannot be a racially charged comment( even some well manned sinhalese writers on the CT also using it to point some mistakes. Are you going to call them too anti-muslim?), here I did not go to use the phrase “Sinhala Modaya” because that can only denote Sinhalese at large. So I re-coined the phrase in my own way. As it is being done outside community who originally coined the original phrase, I paid the necessary attention to make it not being a racist phrase. My intention was to denote the group of people who believe that Buddha wanted to have them to save the land for him, as found in Mahavamsa and vote for the dictatorial governments. So I came out with the phrase “Mahavamsa Modaya”. Even if it is true that Buddha had told them to do so, many Sinhalese Buddhist are not prepared to accept that part of the Mahavamsa. So to separate those who accept the part of the Mahavamsa from the mainstream Sinhalese I used my phrase. Well: Is it a polite way of denoting the people who vote for dictatorial governments? Certainly not, but as a man from the affected community by this action I took the freedom myself to use it. Izeth Hussain can twist it in anyway but it does not going to make me an anti-Muslim(nor anti-Sinhalese). Let me tell you that I am not anti-Muslim but, in fact, with all other indecent behaviors you might be possessing, your writings suggesting that you are an anti-Sinhalese too. The English phrase “Lion Race” in coined there only to show racism against Sinhalese because they have been told in the Mahavamsa that they are descendants of a lion. This phrase denotes Sinhalese at large and a racist one. By using that, you clearly indicated who you are an anti- Sinhalese.
Having got out of Izeth Husain’s deviation technique now we can return to subject matter. To expose Izeth Hussain attempts of betrayals it is not necessary to analyze his all four article. One or two lines on this will be sufficed to show what was the motive of these “not Fanciful, Suppose, Theory of Organic Growth”. This is a simple attempt of saving masters from UN Electric Chair.(After all UN’s electric Chairs came into existence only for the purpose of election and they know there is not one like that)
“I argued that….ethnic minorities cannot all leave this island or be subjected to total genocide.”
This “suppose” is not true. If Tamils not leave Sri Lanka and establish Tamil Eelam soon, they are going to be wiped out by the Army in the North and East. Tamils only intention is staying away from “Mahavamsa Modaya”. So that “suppose” will never come into existence.
“I argued that rather than think in terms of a political solution as something that follows from Constitutional changes and the setting up of certain institutions we should envisage it as something that comes about through a process of organic growth.”
This supposes has no meaning when even “non Mahavamsa Modayas”, mainstream Sinhalese wants to have the executive presidency abolished. (1.This has nothing to do with Tamils. 2.America has a original constitution that guarantees equal status for every body, yet 13th,14,15 amendments were introduced before the civil war to free the slaves. Germany has changed its Nazi constitution- not changing the current racist constitution helps nobody. The Tamil MPs can not talk freely at parliament because of 6th amendment.) It is the mainstream Sinhalese who seek a common Candidate to achieve this. Actually what has happened so far in Lanka is an inverse “suppose organic growth”, because the “Mahavamsa Modayas” disenfranchised the Tamils votes, abolished the Soulbury’s Democratic constitution, created, executive president, then dictator president and now have grown into the ultimate king. So the entire organic growth in Lanka is going on the inverse direction. So the non “Mahavamsa Modayas” Sinhalese wants the constitution to be rewritten from Monarchy to Democratic. Again I have to warn that this has nothing to do with Tamils.
“Suppose both agree to put all that aside and work earnestly to make a success of 13A.” This “suppose” come dressed on mannequin called CV. Well CV knows what he is taking. He has repeated that he is not a politician. He does not care if somebody hold his words for political accuracy. But, still let us look at this “suppose”. Indo-Lanka Pack brought the 13A not to implement it the way after Izeth Hussain has diluted as much as possible for him. First it is recognizing the Tamils Homeland. So any body settled in their Homeland after date must get out of there(Muslims from east too). Second it recognize the North and East as one unit, not is in the way Izeth Hussain proposing. It has the judicial and land power in that. So the North is waiting for that power to prosecute who ever committed crime on their land(certainly this will not end up as organic growth). Apparently Izeth Hussain is attempting to implement the 13A after colonizing the North and East, and after having the East separated and have the their judicial power nullified to seek impunity for his masters. CV is not asking for that 13A.(By 13A he means Federal Status) CV came to power after issuing an election manifesto which openly claimed the Tamils wants the self determination. The manifesto could not go beyond that and call for separate country when 6A is there. Even for that, there are court cases against CV’s election manifesto and if the court cases are won by the government supporters, CV and other would lose their status in NPC and possibly even go to prison too. Further, there is a Parliamentary Select Committee is waiting to nullify the 13A as soon as India is done with the next UNHRC sitting. What ever it is, the Divineguma has already made the 13A an invalid amendment.(After even CJ Shiranee Bandaranaike has been fired because of this, there is no “Not Fancy, Suppose” on this. This illegal law is the reason for CJ Bandaranaike was illegally dismissed.
“Suppose also that 18A is repealed and we have a fully functioning democracy. “ This suppose is another joke. The Constitutional status before 18A was reason to 18A came into existence. Whom he is telling when the 18A is removed the country will returning to democracy. 18A really has no serious consequences. Let take the Term Close, if a good dictator like Lincoln come to power won’t you like him to come back again and again. If the president is good person then won’t like to let councils appointments with him. after all Izeth Hussain has not seen a problem with the Royal family and looking for a organic growth without they are being shaken, so why should not they come back? Why change 18A.
So it is clear, out of all Izeth Hussain bad “supposes” this is the worst “suppose”. He thought that his “supposes” were good enough to betray others. But at end when he saw that he was the only one betrayed by his “supposes”, he became furious and killed the messenger who pointed out it him.
1.“What I am envisaging is that a political solution could emerge through what I call an organic process: by making a success of 13A, plus a fully functioning democracy. “
2.“Fundamental problems we face today cannot be solved by the same level of thinking we were at when we created it. What is needed now is a shift in paradigm and you are best placed to provide it”.
I ask Izeth Hussain if his brain was properly functioning when he was writing these opposing two points? In addition to that mis-match, you are trying to tell here that those guys who wrote the 13A did not have brain capacity level of thinking to have the niceties by making it fully functional(So why do you think they wrote it? only to cheat, Isn’t it right?). They were just average people. Realising this Izeth Hussain, started think like Einstein and found making it fully functional after having the North and East separated and the Judicial Powers of the PC are repealed.
So you know what you have weaved into every sentence. It of no use to me go sentence after sentence and expose what in them. So what I can say of this writing is it is only self betrayal.
I came and write on a Sinhalese web site only with the purpose of reclaiming the lost rights of Tamils from the racist government. It is being possible by CT’s respect for everybody’s opinion. I have a great regard for the owners of the CT who recognize the media freedom. I don’t attempt a “Organic Growth” propaganda like you to save the racist government from electric chair. After I have come to write on CT call me anti-Sinhalese is absolutely ridiculous. If I really hate them, for shame not to follow me, I should stay out of CT.
Leaving that alone I could not see why did you reply at all to my comment. Well you accept that in that example that you sited, as I said, Germans were corrected by external involvement and not by evolution. In addition, you are saying, that you too were aware of it, in the replay to my comment. So, why you have brought a wrong example into your theory of “Organic Growth” which proposes without changing the constitution (only repealing 18A)” could only be an attempt to betray others.
Everybody knows the sri Lankan racist government is going on the downward stream from the day the freedom was given to the the country. (DS started with chasing the up country Tamils to India. Then others wanted North and East Tamils to go to Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi. Now BBS wants the muslims to go to Mecca.) The UN official who visited to the country themslf observed that the country is very aggressively slipping towards Monarchy and commented it has to be stopped.
But with out read or listen to their word and/or having meaning of it interpreted in their way, the Sri Lanka Propagandists like you blamed the UN official as racist and proposing “Organic Growth” Theories . Everybody knows the 25th sitting on UNHRC will going to put a starting procedure for the path to correction. If left alone, every recognise that the country going to de-grow even with greater acceleration because the only resisting force that existed also has been wiped out. There was never a thief corrected himself without punishment. That is why every country has it’s law and order procedure. Like that, never a dictator corrected himself too. So there is a need for International Human and Humanitarian laws and implementation of that on who ever violated those.
So government is employing propagandist to preach “Organic Growth” and for name calling others as Racist (including the UN and international officials and well known Humanitarian lawyers and Judges. If I take seriously calling me a racist by this “Organic Growth” theory propagandist, it will sound as a silly joke. So it is being clear, by answering to me in your way, you again betrayed yourself.
(Izeth Hussain can be count on me answer your question- But I do not come CT daily. I spent most of my time on some other Webs. So may have to have some patience. But, I know that I can not count on you. When it time for you to answer my questions only evade and blaff.)
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Mallaiyuran / February 27, 2014
Izeth Hussain,
Ha ha ha
Great! You did it again!
You can call me anything. I don’t care. But, other readers have already pointed out it you that the shape reaction of yours to my comment is more than enough reason to say that you are the real racist. You can not betray anybody on this because when you started to answer the comments, mine was the last one here. But, it was first one received your reply too. So everybody have noticed how it pricked to you when I impliedly asked you if you are a holocaust denier for suggesting Germains peacefully changed over themselves.
I said that you are betraying yourself if you bring here Germains’ two wars here in a manner opposing their needs for the wars. Instead of answering direct to that question, you took the Royal Governments MEA’s usual defences “I did not say this, I did not say that”. These days everybody knows how the Royal Government and it’s associates hide truth and their real faces. Still you are avoiding to say why did you bring the the Germans here when you are proposing the “theory of Natural Growth”.
Holocaust deniers say that Jews were not affected by Germains, the world war II was there because of America and Britain were just jealous of Germany’s developments. This type of anti- American, anti- British stories are said daily in news briefs of the Royal government( UN’s electric Chair is classic example of this). If you could not understand that implied question in my previous comment, now you can answer if the world war II was not needed to save the Jews.
On your “American Blacks” example, a new question arise in my mind. Is here a double crossing taking place? You can answer to that too. When UNHRC’s resolution is almost certain, there are many “Natural Growth” like theories are being proposed to save the Royal from the UN’s electric chair(as described by the Royal for the purpose of election). Now you are suggesting a second example to which three wars were needed to fix it.(American Freedom war stopped the ships bring slaves to Confederate States, American Civil War released the slaves with the help of 13th amendment from the Confederate States’ Masters and Kennedy called in the troops to stop the Confederates National Guards from preventing Blacks to a school that they would prefer. While writing “Natural Growth Theory” to save Royal and at the same time suggesting examples that points the need of UN security councils Peace Keepers to Sri lanka, are you double crossing the Tamils and the Sri Lankan Royal government at the same time? In Tamil they say “the lazy home maid pinch the child and rock the cradle”. At least, Minimum, you are doing that. Aren’t you?
If you do not have answer now too you are welcomed to go ahead and curse. That makes us to understand what is your answer is.
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Hooker / February 24, 2014
In the 3 responses Izzeth Hussain comes with in this thread he ignores to address the reader to whom he replies. Readers notice this is his
general inclination. Is this some way of Hussain’s assertion he is far
too superior to others to refer to them by their chosen name or identification.
Hooker
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Ajith / February 24, 2014
Dear Izeth Hussain,
I didn’t expect such a response from you. As an author of this article you should have stopped with responding to the comments but you went further to describe the commentator as an anti Muslim racist and anti Sinhalese racist. This clearly identifies you are an anti Tamil racist. Further you charge those who rejected the devolution proposal offer as anti-Sinhalese racist. How will you describe those who rejected the LTTE’s offer of the proposals for the interim Self governing Body for the North East? Anti_Tamil racists who are responsible for the deaths of scores of thousands of innocent Tamils and few hundred innocent Sinhala and Muslims.
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Izeth Hussain / February 25, 2014
Dear Ajith – you point out that I describe the commentator as an anti-Muslim and anti-Sinhalese racist, and you continue “This clearly identifies you as an anti-Tamil racist”. Does it? According to your argument the American blacks who have been complaining about white racism are also racist.
The Tamils who rejected the generous devolution offers from 1995 to 2000 did so because of a racist notion – the notion of an unchanging Mahawamsa mindset – which made it difficult or impossible for them to believe that the Sinhalese could give them fair and equal treatment.
The Sinhalese also rejected the proposed interim self-governing body because of the racism that made it difficult or impossible for them to believe that the Tamils would not use it to strike out for Eelam.
Every human group can be racist. Every human group can also transcend racism. The Sinhalese side clearly showed that capacity for transcendence between 1994 and 2000. The Tamils tragically missed that opportunity because of their own racism – Izeth
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