By Rev. S.J. Emmanuel –
Rev. Dr S.J. Emmanuel
Introduction
The fact that you have invited me to write my thoughts on five years after the war, helps me to join at least the few progressive voices, who do not sing with the majority or swim with the stream, but genuinely concerned about promoting a peaceful coexistence of all the peoples and religions within the island.
Though the Government and their media doing their utmost to portray me and my engagement during the last two decades as pro-terrorist and pro-separatist, I wish to say clearly and with utmost sincerity that the truth is far from it. Heaps of lies have been fabricated from internet-gossips and written about me, tarnishing my identity not only as a supporter of terrorism and separatism,but also as a mad Christian comparing LTTE leader Prabaharan to Jesus Christ . I am open, transparent and living not in hiding. Anyone is welcome to see the reality about my life and activities.
Of course, I am consciously guarding and acting on my God-given identity as a born Tamil and a baptized Christian, with Sri Lanka and all its peoples as my home country and co-citizens. I believe and struggle for my conviction that Sri Lanka is a multiethnic and multireligious country, with equal rights for all. In various stages of my life, witnessing what was going on around me, I have spoken and written my views as a Tamil catholic priest explaing the agonies and aspirations of my people and wishing peaceful coexistence for all. I have criticised the government and their politicians. But never have I spoke or written anything against the Sinhala people or Buddhism.
But unfortunately the Government and their media, instead of using me as a partner for dialogue or as a bridge-builder for peace, have sought to tarnish my image and proscribe me as supporter of terrorism and separatism. Their writings betray their evil intentions against dialogue and peace. Hence I repeat my convictions hoping to win over them.
An overview of the conflict, war and the post-war developments against hope
a) Initial mistakes of the majority Sinhalese and its forces
1. It is clearly the unwillingness of the majority Sinhalese to understand the demands of the Tamils for equality and human rights that has pushed the Tamils to make a cry for survival from federalism to separatism.
2. Similarly it was the state-terrorism, unspoken of in the South, but practiced in the Tamil areas up to 1977, by the misinformed sinhala soldiers that pushed the Tamil youth to counter-terrorism. Very often the majority and their Governments speak of events after the birth of the LTTE and do not ask how the LTTE came intoexistence.
b) Lying to the international community to get its support
3. Only when the non-violent and democratic protests of the Tamils turned into violent opposition to state-terrorism, that the Government portraying Tamil militancy as mere Tamil terrorism, turned to the international community against the Tamils. With international finance and weapons, the Government forces wiped off “Tamil terrorism” and established their historic victory in May 2009. Hence international support was sought not for resolving the long drawn out ethnic conflict, but for fighting a terrorist-war, especially initiated after 11thSept. by the Bush-regime.
4. Terrorism was officially wiped off, but the causes of terrorism, remains and the present Government of Sri Lanka, without any Tamil militant opposition,is intensifying and escalating its state-terrorism once again in the North, thus returning to the earlier days of conflict in the 60s and 70s.
c) After the war ended in May 2009, a new war is on widening and deepening the ethnic conflict
5. And now the war has officially ended. But since the war was not only against the LTE, but more against the Tamils, it continues as a new war of occupation and eradication against the Tamils. It is going on without LTTE opposition,in a more authoritarian way. The escalation of military presence and grip of the North through permanent camps and settlements, arrogant interference into aspects of civil life and against the elected Provincial Council, state-aided sinhala colonisation and Buddhistisation of the North by grabbing lands at will from the civilians – all these to eradicate the roots of Tamil existence in the traditional homelands of Tamils.
d) SL Government turns International collaboration into a confrontation
6. The international community mistakenly thought that once the tamil-terrorism was wiped out, a political solution was possible and easy. LTTE was projected as the only obstacle to peace and political solution. But once the war was over, and the donors especially of the western world expected the Government to make efforts for a political solution, the Government rejected these old friends in favour of new friends like China,Russia,Pakistan and Iraq. The demands of the western world led by the US through UN Resolution was humiliated and defeated with the help of those new friends and labelling their call as neo-colonialism to get african and asian countries for support.
7. As “donors and benefactors of the war against terror” the western world had a right to ask for accountability of the crimes committed against innocent people. Hence the latest Geneva Resolution. The very Government that accepted aid and weapons with both hands now refuses to be accountable for the crimes committed. The new phase of internationalization of the conflict changed from military collaboration with SLG to political confrontation against the SLG.
8. The Geneva resolutions took much effort from the UN, the UNHCR and the lobbying of the diaspora Tamils, to end up as a limited success in March 2014. But that has pushed the Government to a shameless position of refusing to cooperate with the very pre-Mullivaikal donors of finance and weapons as well as with the UNHRC.
e) Government re-starting the war by bogus cries against Tamils in and outside Sri Lanka
9. Now the Government is resorting to a bogus cry of re-emerging tiger-terrorism to justify their military escalation in the Tamil areas as well as starting a new war against the Tamil diaspora. The intention is to eradicate the roots of Tamil existence in the island as well as to frighten and silence the Tamil diaspora.!
10. Opening of a new war-front against the diaspora Tamils as supporters of terrorism or resurgence of LTTE-terrorism, is a clear reaction of anger against the diaspora Tamils as influencing the last Geneva Resolution. It is also an attempt by the Government to silence or frighten/weaken the diaspora in giving evidence against the crimes of the Government. But in these moves, it is making potential helpers for building a united and peaceful Sri lanka into foes.
f) Hopes for reconciliation and peace fade away
11. Thirty years of brutal war, in which not only youths but also civilians from both sides perished, has not taught us a true and genuine way to resolve the conflict, reconcile the peoples and rebuild a new nation of peaceful coexistence of all peoples. Those who caused the conflict, gave birth to LTTE and received international help to wipe out terrorism have a grater obligation to save the country and peoples for a peaceful coexistence of all. Reconciliation is possible only when there is a will to admit the truth of history and be accountable to the demands of justice. But are the majority and their government ready for it?
12. Among those who were very happy the war ended was the international community, especially those over twenty countries which gave finance and weapons to crush the LTTE. They were hoping for a new beginning, but the victorious in their euphoria became blind and proceeded in the opposite direction, namely, to bulldoze Tamil war-cemeteries, establish a heavier military authority in the North and asser their ownership as sinhala buddhists at the expense of a conquered and victimized people.
13. For the many thousands of victims still bleeding but hoping for some relief, the actions of the victorious government and its forces were very diasappointing and hurtful, to say the least. They voted with enthusiasm for a Tamil provincial government, and that too has been rendered powerless.
14.While denying to the still surviving Tamils their right to mourn and remember their own sons and daughters mercilessly killed, the Governor is forcing Tamil children to converge to Mullaitivu to salute their own dead as war-heroes.
g) Is there a Hope for a better future?
15. As a believing Christian, I will never give up hope in the face of darkness. It is true that the message of the majority and its government to the Tamils is clear – that they won not merely over the LTTE but over the Tamils as a whole. And there is very little sympathy for the victims but only an arrogant escalation of eradicating further the roots of Tamil nationalism to make way for a single Sinhala Buddhist country according to Mahinda Chinthanaya! The government celebrations continue as victory over Tamils and their terrorists, and of the establishment of the Sinhala Buddhist nation as the one exclusive Sri Lankan nation. Still we have ask – where lies the Hope for a better future?
16. Anyone from the government or the majority community who expressed critical views of the government or solidarity with the Tamil community is in danger. Anyone who came out strongly in demanding justice and human rights for the still surviving Tamils was accused of betraying the interests of the majority Sinhalese. As far as the Tamils are concerned, we can identify the enlightened as well as the innocent among the majority Sinhalese and Buddhists. We are in solidarity with the progressive voices in the south – politicians, journalists and religious or social leaders who are bravely doing their service to keep the path of democracy, of freedom and human rights. We salute them and wish that their numbers grow.
17. In conclusion on a note of hope, I will make a sincere appeal to the leaders of all the four religions in Sri Lanka. During these last 6 decades after independence, the religions by their silence and passivity and self-centredness contributed very little. When the first crack in ethnic relations broke out with the Sinhala-Only Bill of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike in 1956, only one courageous leader the Anglican Archdeacon Harold de Soysa condemed it. Religions have done some humanitarian services, but failed to call a spade, a spade. Very often religions are quick to condemn evil but nothing is done to arrest the root causes of the evil. When state-terrorism was raging in the Tamil areas, when state-terrorism and counter-Tamil-terrorism became a piral and war, religions were almost by-standers. At least now when the war is over, stand up for truth, justice, good-governance, democracy and true reconciliation and save the country from its national suicide.
THE DARKEST PLACES IN HELL ARE RESERVED FOR THOSE WHO MAINTAIN THEIR NEUTRALITY
IN TIMES OF MORAL CRISIS
Fathima Fukushima / May 19, 2014
Then LEAVE SL with dignity than live in perpetual INDIGNITY.
So that is what Tamils are missing.
I’m not surprised. The cowards who surrendered to the enemy and ate enemy’s “chocolates”!!
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S. Modaya / May 19, 2014
5 years after war ended the Health and Education sectors in Sri Lanka are being cut back and destroyed, and a run by CORRUPT, CRIMINAL and UNEDUCATED Ministers, while massive funds are being WASTED on UNNECESSARY militarization and the so-called Defense Establishment of Gota the Goon who is Sri Lanka’s Military Dictator while Mahinda Aiya provides the show of corrupt democracy with a never ending circus of elections..
The Health Minister has a track record of corruption and has used the case with the Tobacco company to distract SInhala Modayas from the mess in the Health sector and the failure to pass the National Drugs Policy Bill.
Sinhala Modayas are living on a diet of Jarapassa MEDIA SPIN, BBS BALU SENA racism and an excess of Buddhist rituals in MILITARY VESAK KALAPA while what the Buddha taught – metta, karuna, mudita etc. is absent from the Rajapaksa military dictatorship which is destroying Sri Lanka’s only post-independence achievements – Good and free health and Education for all!
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Veera / May 19, 2014
Keep trying hard modaya to defeat MR. Keep trying. You might succeed in 2026. Buy a dozen goats and chop their heads off too to accelerate the process. You fool !
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kali / May 21, 2014
Rev Emmanuel:
***Though the Government and their media doing their utmost to portray me and my engagement during the last two decades as pro-terrorist and pro-separatist.
What the GOSL or their mouth piece says is not GOSPEL but GARBAGE. We were the victims and we fought for Freedom from Sinhalese Tyranny and I make no apology to any one and you don’t have to apologise to any one except God.
Menachem Begin and Yitzak Shamir both fought against the Brits and were branded as terrorists at the time but went on to become leaders of their country.
How refreshing to see 20 million Racists are now Bootlicking Modi but it wont work and any attempt to hoodwink the World is a futile exercise and MR will pay for his sins. HAGUE beckons.
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Amarasiri / May 19, 2014
By Rev. S.J. Emmanuel –
RE: Five Years After The End Of The War: Conflict Worsens And Hopes Fade Away!
” Though the Government and their media doing their utmost to portray me and my engagement during the last two decades as pro-terrorist and pro-separatist,”
The MaRa State in inventing new enemies, so that there is conflict and they can sty in power…
Listen to
Anura Dissanayake’s Speech at Muslim Youth Ceremony – 2014.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1vU7jfMStI
Published on May 13, 2014
Anura Dissanayake’s Speech at Founders; Day Ceremony of All Ceylon Muslim League Youth Federation – 2014.05.12
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sach / May 19, 2014
In other words, LTTE front orgs want conflict in SL to continue.
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kali / May 21, 2014
Sach you Idiot:
What conflict are you talking about. There is none but total surrender by MR in front of the Saffron Men. Unlike you lot don’t worry we wont shoot you but will be herded in to White Vans to an unknown destination.
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Bedrock Barney / May 19, 2014
If all else fails, Modiji will take care of the Tamils, at least that’s what Sivathasan has been saying for a whole year!
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Amarasiri / May 20, 2014
Bedrock Barney
“If all else fails, Modiji will take care of the Tamils, at least that’s what Sivathasan has been saying for a whole year!”
If all else fails, Modiji will take care of the Tamils and Lanka, at least that’s what Sivathasan has been saying for a whole year, the way Russia took care of Crimea, Turkey took care of Cyprus, Nehru took care of Goa, etc.
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Karikalan Saravana / May 19, 2014
Rev. Father,
Thank you for sharing your views. I am afraid, it is a voice in the wilderness.True, there are some enlightened souls with progressive views living incognito among the majority community. But they are few and their voice is feeble. The arbiters of our destiny are the cabal with a medieval mindset. Noble thoughts, words or deeds are alien and abhorrent to them.
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sach / May 19, 2014
show me the progressives in Tamil community.
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ela kolla / May 19, 2014
emmanuel, did you enjoy the victory celebration?
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Mikhael / May 19, 2014
‘never have I spoke or written anything against the Sinhala people’ One paragraph later, ‘It is clearly the unwillingness of the majority Sinhalese to understand the demands of the Tamils’.
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Ram / May 19, 2014
Yes, it’s always been, we demand, you deliver.
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Banda / May 19, 2014
I still remember how Anura Kumara, Vijitha Herath and their band of hoodlums delivering us notices to close our factories, shops, officers schools, court rooms on the instructions of the JVP hierarchy for reasons they only knew. I still have a red notice they send me for failing to comply with their instructions. I don’t want to explain how I saved my life at the time here.
Those were the days that JVP and their deshapremis had killed many an innocent people for no reason other than being the supporters of the UNP. And there were those that were killed just for voting at the first PC elections. Just like LTTE and their backers, JVP and their carder have never repented for their crimes. The very buggers who tried to kill us and did their best to ruin this country then talk today like seraphs whose only aim is to save democracy. Where were you Amarasiri those days?
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DesperateL / May 19, 2014
Bando Bando…
tell us any party in the parliament today had not been violent at least once or several times in their past ?
We dont need to focus on the past to brand them as the murderers – in an era your beloved Tsunami hora is defending even former rhythless gurillas in his cabinet today.
In late 80ties, I also escaped my life and since then I have been living out of country. How many of the youth – mostly not even JVP activists were killed by UNP or JVPers as no other times in the history. But it is the na ture of our people. Recalling the way that our people harmed innocient tamil business men and women in 83 riots are no secret to anyone. I was then punchi kolla but i still remember how panicked my sister had been just looking at the way how Pettah and other area people attacked the tamil people. Very same manner or even more brutally they the UNP and JVPrs killed their own people in late 80ties. I know my then mates and their families that have been made life long unhappy because of these human losses.
But today, we are in a no war sitaution. At least now we have to guide the nation in a civilized manner should be leader´s first priority. But do you think that the men in power see it beyond and invest more to that direction ? Tell us your genuine thoughts you as a senior man in early 70ties. Why you guys behave as if you too are hallozinated. Wimala weerawansa of the current regime is fed up of RULING coalition to this day. Several other powerful ministers have also been adding their honest views to the press these days.
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K.A Sumanasekera / May 19, 2014
Correct me if I am wrong.. Isn’t this Hon Reverend, part of the pro LTTE British Tamil movement, who chased away the SL Prez when he wanted to come and meet the Diaspora soon after Nanthikadal?.
Isn’t he a member or an office bearer of the pro LTTE Eelaam Govt lead by ex LTTE lawyer PM Rudrakumaran who even as late as last month begged the Scottish Politicians to help him stop the SL Prez coming to the C?oommonwealth Games in Glasgow?.
Is that also Govt propaganda to tarnish the image of this good Reverend?.
This Reverend’s protege, Bishop Raiappu is openly encouraging the Tamil inhabitants in his diocese and elsewhere in the North to go with the LTTE proxy TNA and confront the authorities,
What do these Catholics in the North have in Common with the TNA which is a total Vellala outfit?..
Aren’t the inhabitants of the Catholic faith, poor people who belong to communities which the Vellalas treat as low castes?.
Aren’t the most important issues these poor Catholics interested in jobs, good educational facilities, good health care and terror free living for their kids after three decades serving the fellow Christian Prabakaran ?.
Does the Reveend address any of the above issues in this confession and absolution.?.
Or are these two men of God, Reverend Emmanuel and Bishop Raiappu going to convert them to Vellala class too at least in monetary terms, if they help the Vellalas to run the North with their own Police and Land Bank…
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Easwaran / May 19, 2014
Hi K.A Sumanasekera You still have a very jaundice eye. you have reflected in your comments that you are an out and out racist. Unable to comprehend what Reverend has said in his article. Any one who had pointed out the inhumanity shown by Sinhala politicians towards the Tamils since the independence from 1948 seems to you as trouble makers, separatist and terrorist. You are not willing to accept the injustices caused to Tamils. LTTE is a prodigy of Sinhala state terrorism. Without solving the root cause you wish to highlight the symptoms. Result would only deepen the fragmentation that has been all ready created. We all are mortals who will perish one day and gone, why not try while we exist to think in a civilized educated way and follow the let live policy.
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Jayakody / May 19, 2014
Eswaran,
Can you please tell your priests and natives to put proper Thamil names to their kids. What’s this David Emanuel, Alston Joseph, David Fernando, Alan Aloysius, Charles Anthony.. What’s this nonsense changing names for favors from the Church?
Names like Duraiappa, Appapillai Amirthalingam, Sarojini Selvarathnam, Neelan Thiruchelvam would be ideal.
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Ramasamy / May 19, 2014
I don’t know why you want to focus on such trivial non-issues as the names that are foisted off on defenseless infants, soon after birth. Language based eastern names and religion based western names are common among the Tamils but it is also equally true in the case of the Sinhalese.
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Jayakody / May 20, 2014
Ramasamy,
May be it was a coincidence that all those guys in the second list with proper Hindu Tamil names were brutally assassinated by LTTE Tamils .. Church Tamils killing Hindu Tamils ?
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kali / May 21, 2014
Jeyakodi ( Thamil Kodi)
What do you call Vihara Sinhalese ( Gotha ) jailing Church Sinhalese ( Portugese Sarath Fonseka).
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Native Vedda / May 21, 2014
Jayakody
“What’s this David Emanuel, Alston Joseph, David Fernando, Alan Aloysius, Charles Anthony.. What’s this nonsense changing names for favors from the Church?”
Thamils are following their Sinhala speaking Demela brethren. Its similar to names such as
Bandu de Silva
Sarath Fonseka
G L Pieris
Kamalika Pieris
Dilhara Fernando
C T Fernando
M S Fernando
Fernandez
Perera
Alwis
Zoysa
Mendis
John
Stephen
Lorenzo
William
Violet
Dorin
Randi
Christan
Kristin
and other Sanskrit and Tamil names from north and south India.
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kali / May 21, 2014
Jeyakodi ( Thamil Kidi)
Can you lot stop naming your kids with Portugese names like De Silva Fernando and use names like Banda, Paksasa.
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Rajan Walpola / May 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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Off the Cuff / May 19, 2014
Dear Rev. S.J. Emmanuel,
Re “I believe and struggle for my conviction that Sri Lanka is a multiethnic and multireligious country, with equal rights for all. “
I am a Sinhalese and a Buddhist. I believe that Sri Lanka is multi ethnic and multi religious with equitable rights to all.
Like you, I consider all of Sri Lanka my home and sincerely wish that her citizenry can coexist and prosper together in peace.
Sri Lanka’s resources should benefit all her citizens equitably. Any avaricious claims to these resources by any section of that multi-ethnic society would give rise to conflict. This is because the principle of equitable rights is violated by any such claim.
Land, Water and Mineral resources are some of them. Of these, Land and Water are Rare and finite resources essential to life and is the most important birth right of ALL of Lanka’s citizenship.
Can’t you see that avaricious claims on these rare and finite resources by any group will cause conflict? You can find examples of this all over the world.
Equitable rights means giving up on avaricious claims.
But instead of giving up avaricious claims you reinforce them.
How do you plan to establish peace by encouraging stealing of the birthright from the rest?
I do hope that you are prepared for a honest discourse unlike Dr. Kumar David, Dr Muttukrishna Sarvananthan and Ms Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah etc
Kind Regards,
OTC
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lal / May 19, 2014
Nicely put across by Off The Cuff (OTC)
Like you, I too am for equitable distribution of resources and opportunities for all citizens regardless ethnicity/religion/family background. This is something the Tamil leadership have not and will not accept. Their motive seems to get extra “rights” for themselves at the expense of the majority community. Hence they use the term *demands”. Will Fr E and Tamil leaders accept a constituition that explicitly guarantees equal rights for all citizens? I think not. They will “demand” extras (eg.Tamil only province) for Tamils, with “demands” for sharing the rest of territory with others. And has Fr. E condemned LTTE terrorism? I wish Fr. E a long life, but he will never see an Eaalam, not ever!
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Dr John Peterchild / May 19, 2014
I am perturbed by the speed at which this beautiful isle of Sri Lanka that was the crown in the jewel of the British Colonies has been speeding towards self-destruction. There is plenty of room in the country for everyone to live in peaceful co-existence in fairness and equality. But it requires magnanimous generosity from the majority community towards the minorities, whether they be Tamils, Muslims or Burghers.
Redeem yourselves from the political Buddhist monks who have been for far too long allowed to preach a form of Mahavamsa mindset Buddhism that is based on rabble rousing fiction. Look at how the developed nations grow even stronger, without communal bickering. President Obama in the US and the Scots at the centre of political power in he UK are examples of minorities whose ethnicity is invisible but whose contribution to the nation in politics, the economy and culture is strong. Sri Lanka can still catch up if only the majority can extend a hand of genuine friendship and EQUALITY to the others who have lived together with them in this unhappily benighted island that could have been paradise on earth.
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I am no muslim / May 19, 2014
Dr John Peterchild,
Writing to Gatestone Institute, on ‘The Islamization of Britain in 2013’ Soeren Kern wrote that new census data published by the British government as saying within the next generation the dominant religion in Britain will be Islam.
Google ‘islamization-britain’ and read how Muslim gangs are seen abusing non-Muslim pedestrians and repeatedly shouting “this is a Muslim area.” and how a college banned niqabs and burqas as a security measure and then retracted for which Tory MP for Kettering, Philip Hollobone said the reversal was a shameful disgrace and argued for the urgent need for legislation to ban the niqab in all public spaces. And more.
I say you keep that type of ‘egalitarian’ society. We’ll see your society becoming a Syria within a generation. You deserve it. But we don’t need it. Thank you. ‘We’ll do it our way.’
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Off the Cuff / May 20, 2014
Dear Dr John Peterchild,
Tamils are not homogenous. Broadly there are two groups of Tamils.
1. A Servile class of over 80%
2. A Ruling class of less than 20%
The Ruling Class owned all Land and controlled the economy and means of production. The Servile Class were virtual slaves deprived of an Education, Religious freedom, Territorial Mobility, Land etc. They were completely destitute and locked in to menial jobs by heredity, confined to designated ghettos, with no way out. A Scavenger’s child was destined to be a scavenger not withstanding any intellectual prowess that the child may profess.
The Tamil Leadership were all from the ruling class as the servile class was deprived of any Education. The British Historian Dr Jane Russell observes in her book Communal politics under the Donoughmore Constitution, 1931-1947, “The learned legislator (Ramanathan) led two delegations during the late 1920s demanding the Colonial Office in London that Caste be encoded into the legislative enactments of Ceylon”
In other words the Tamil Ruling class wanted the persecution and slavery they practiced on the 80% + Tamil population legalized in perpetuity.
Ceylon Tamil League (CTL) was formed in 1921 by Sir Ponnambalam Arunachelem, the leading Tamil politician of the day. In 1922 at the 2nd General Meeting of the CTL he declared … . “… to keep alive and propagate these precious ideals throughout Ceylon, Southern India and the Tamil Colonies, to promote the union and solidarity of Tamilakam, the Tamil Land. We should keep alive and propagate these ideals throughout Ceylon and promote the union and solidarity of what we have been proud to call Tamil Eelam. We desire to preserve our individuality as a people, make ourselves worthy of our inheritance… We are not enamoured of that Cosmopolitanism which would make of as neither fish, fowl, nor red herring”
This was 26 years before Independence!
The Vision was of a great Tamil Kingdom that included Tamil India, Tamil Colonies and Sri Lanka. He wanted an overwhelmingly Tamil, Tamil Kingdom with the others as minorities within. He did not want a Sri Lanka where the Tamils would be a minority, though it was physical fact. Since they could not achieve it within Lanka they were willing to commit treason in order to become a majority.
Though I can give you much more information than the above, I believe it is sufficient to understand the psych of the Tamil Leadership.
The Tamil leadership was a minority with a massive majority complex.
Sri Lanka has finite resources of Land and water. Both are essential to life. Our Territorial waters extending 200 miles out to sea provides us food and a living for our fishermen. There are mineral resources found and yet to be found on Land and Sea.
All that is the wealth of the country and is the birthright of ALL her citizens.
But claims are made on this common wealth that are not Equitable.
That is the Crux of the matter and it has nothing to do with magnanimity etc. The demands made should be fair and reasonable in other words Equitable.
You have also touched on the Mahavamsa and Buddhism “Redeem yourselves from the political Buddhist monks who have been for far too long allowed to preach a form of Mahavamsa mindset Buddhism that is based on rabble rousing fiction”
Ask yourself why Tamils were unleashing Violence and Arson against other Tamils in 1871, 1923, 1929 and 1931. the bug bear, the Mahavamsa, existed and the Sinhalese and Buddhists existed but there were no Ethnic clashes for centuries!
You are being hoodwinked by propaganda.
Racism entered Lankan politics in 1939, courtesy a Tamil racist.
In order to dethrone the Ramanathans from political power in the North, the founder of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, Tamil Lawyer Mr G.G.Ponnambalam kindled racial hatred. He attacked the Mahavamsa and the Sinhalese with a Hate Speech he delivered at a public platform in Nawalapitiya. The result was the First Tamil Sinhala Riot of the 20th century that tore centuries of peace that existed between the two races.
Mahavamsa bashing is a dangerous past time as evidenced by the reaction to the Father of Political Racism, Mr G. G. Ponnambalam, the founder of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress.
As an outsider you should be able to view the problem dispassionately without being carried away by the emotional propaganda that clouds the issue. Please let us know what your views are after a closer study of the background history.
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Anpu / May 20, 2014
OTC,
“
1. A Servile class of over 80% 2. A Ruling class of less than 20% “
1. A service class whole Sinhalese minus one family.
2. A ruling class – just one Rajapakse family
Did you say you are a Buddhist? Are you?
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Off the Cuff / May 20, 2014
Dear Anpu,
I responded to a misconception by Dr. John Peterchild.
Are you contesting the Fact that the Brahmins and Vellalas (a group of less than 20% of Tamil polity) Dominated and Practiced one of the worst forms of Slavery the world has ever seen on the Northern Tamils?
If so please explain the reasons behind the Tamil Tamil Violence and Arson in 1871, 1923, 1929 and 1931. That was a period during which Ethnic Violence did not exist. Hence you cannot use your usual subterfuge of blaming the Mahavamsa and the Sinhalese or Buddhists.
It proves that it was neither the Mahavamsa nor the Sinhalese nor the Buddhists that caused Ethnic Strife but the Avarice of the Tamil Brahmin – Vellalar nexus which caused strife.
Are you Brave enough to tackle that question with honesty?
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Anpu / May 20, 2014
OTC,
I do not need to show my bravery to you (who support the murderous regime). Many writers have written in many websites including CT that Mahavamsa mentality is the cause for Ethnic Strife and many murders.
It is very sad that Buddhism is used for that.
Are you brave enough to deny this?
1. A service class whole Sinhalese minus one family. 2. A ruling class – just one Rajapakse family
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Off the Cuff / May 20, 2014
Dear Anpu,
Re “Many writers have written in many websites including CT that Mahavamsa mentality is the cause for Ethnic Strife and many murders”
Attacking the Mahavamsa has been a past time of Racists, Religious extremists and Separatists since GG Ponnambalam started it in 1939, precipitating the first Ethnic Riot. Truth is not measured by the numbers who write. Just like the repeated claims of the elastic number of civilian deaths will not be proof of a 147,000 deaths.
Your fear of answering my question proves that you are on a bad wicket. Here is my question again. Please give us your theory.
Please explain the reasons behind the Tamil Tamil Violence and Arson in 1871, 1923, 1929 and 1931. That was a period during which Ethnic Violence did not exist. Hence you cannot use your usual subterfuge of blaming the Mahavamsa and the Sinhalese or Buddhists. It proves that it was neither the Mahavamsa nor the Sinhalese nor the Buddhists that caused Ethnic Strife but the Avarice of the Tamil Brahmin – Vellalar nexus which caused strife.
Re “It is very sad that Buddhism is used for that. Are you brave enough to deny this?”
I have not only denied it but proved it wrong.
It’s pathetic the way you are trying to use Rajapakse to hide behind. Rajapakse was not even born when the racist Tamil GGP set Lanka on fire with communal war.
BTW. I don’t support any regime but I do support my country.
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Ram / May 19, 2014
” But it requires magnanimous generosity from the majority community towards the minorities “
Sri Lanka is a democracy, with guaranteed equal rights for ALL citizens. The Sinhala nor the Muslims are in any way privileged. The Tamil politicos have been howling ‘discrimination’ for years now, but without in anyway being able to list them. We DO NOT wish for a country where the minorities are privileged, as they unashamedly were, under the colonial rule. The 4% of the Tamils who make up the Northern Province have been demanding power over the Eastern Province where the Tamils are a mere third of the population. Co-existence is tha last thing on their minds. Never forget that the majority of the Tamil minority live amicably among the rest in all parts of the rest of the country.
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Banda / May 19, 2014
Desperate,
I can see you are really desperate to rid of Rajapakse. Unfortunately for you it will not come light during this decade or before 2020.
Not long after I have returned to Sri Lanka after studying, working and doing business in the UK for 18 odd years 1983 riots stuck. I was living in a central position in Colombo 7 and I have seen it all at first hand. It was nothing but anarchy all around me. The Army and the Police just couldn’t cope with the situation. Later. I was given to understand that it was a dirty job started by hooligans and mobsters backed by some politicians that got carried away beyond expectations. I think that’s the exact outcome LTTE expected by killing 13 unarmed soldiers. And we all have paid for it, dearly.
For one thing though, I have never seen an ordinary Sinhalese harmed any Tamil men or women in 83 riots. I for one had many Tamil friends and employees in my office at the time, and I have cared for as many as I could. Even today, I see that the vast majority of Sinhalas do not differentiate between their friends or for doing business or other matters whether they are Tamil or Sinhalese. To be honest, however most Sinhalas think Tamils are racists and they aim to divide this country. And that’s the problem I too carry with me.
I believe, it’s up to Tamils to try and get rid of that hallmark. The way the TNA and Diasporas Tamils are going about is not the way to get that seal out. One way to do that as I see it is Tamils must negotiate to share power at the centre. I for one will not object a Tamil being appointed or elected the President or Prime Minister. But that Tamil must show us that he can be trusted. Kadirgamar is a man who had shown us that he can be trusted. And he would have reached such a position had he not been killed by LTTE.
Rajapakse may be a Tsunami hora for you but for the vast majority of us, with all his shortcomings, he is the man who has brought peace for Sri Lanka. Mind you, politics is a game for politicians; so I do not know what game Wimal is playing. Mark my word, there is no alternative to Rajapakse that Sinhala Buddhist villages can trust right now. So call him king or whatever, the man is in for a long haul. Besides, in spite of what JVP, UNP and others say, these are the best of times for the majority of Sri Lankans who lives in the villages.
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DesperateL / May 19, 2014
What can I say, You are a typical lanken that would never make your mind studying and understading the gravity of teh problems as they really are. Even if you said to have lived /worked/studied on the west, nothing seems to have helped you a lot to change your nature. That is sad.
Forutnatley, I dont belong to that category. I am happy too about that. It is the mind set of the individual what makes who he/she is. Being out of the country for the last few decades, while getting to read only about rise of the dgree of problems in terms of
1) lack of justice
2) lack of rule of law and order
3) Distinction of the lack of respect and dignity of life
4) People´s indifference towards today´s problems
I easily get hurt.
I raise the quesiton why a nation of much higher litaracy rate is fallen to current kind of appalling levels … but none of these seem to be your focus, Bando ? You are just one of them that seems to have the same thinking… sure many in rural areas have got much in common with you than anyone that respect – law and order. For the leader in power today is not worth enough to appoint to sweep maradana streets. None of them in the bunch are qualified even for that. The chaos that he arose through his thuggish agendas are even brutal than those of late prabakaran.
What kind of peace have you been talking about ? JuST STOPPING the war is what you call peace ? Do you think that buddhist majority would agree with the manner that islamic minorities apart to tamils are being harm by govt machineries ?
For me alone the fact that the bugger seems to have no respect for the law and alone good enough to go against him. Recalling the recent brutal incidents, his shannigans created in hambantota against the visiting UNP young MPs ( I can gurantee none of them are abusive by any means – but young energies that could save the country) – what has he as the minister of defence taken against… ( rememember this occured after the UN passed the 3 rd resolution against his regime – all is focused on human right violations)
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DesperateL / May 19, 2014
“For one thing though, I have never seen an ordinary Sinhalese harmed any Tamil men or women in 83 riots. I for one had many Tamil friends and employees in my office at the time, and I have cared for as many as I could. Even today, I see that the vast majority of Sinhalas do not differentiate between their friends or for doing business or other matters whether they are Tamil or Sinhalese. To be honest, however most Sinhalas think Tamils are racists and they aim to divide this country. And that’s the problem I too carry with me.”
What matters is the numbers of victimzed parties. I cant agree with you here that you failed to see an ordinary sinhalese harmed any tamil people in 83 riots. I myself know two three families that rose their life through the sums of funds looted in that clashes. These families were then living in Kelaniya area not that far from the Viharaya. We wondered how come the families became so called middle upper class people just after the riots in 83. They built up big houses as nobody thought could be done through by their fair sums they could earn through their business in mannig market or other place in pettah.
So, you guys have been doing the same as Maraja buruwa has been doing… even if you have prima facie evidence to prove the wrong ones are wrong, you would just ignore articulating the other wayround.
Anyway, that has lot to do with your honesty. I am raised in a very conservative family. We also had paternal relatives like Walpola hamudurwo that worked for the country then. To that time, budhists repsected their fellow people. Today, to see that even Mahanayakes to ignore even alarming problems fo the day – is a very sad thing happened to the country. Recently, I watched a video Mahanayakes requesting that pseduo monk Ghanasara ” do someting against today´s problems”. Meaning not even having the healthy knowledge about those skin head Ghanasarasa are upto. How many times they created unncessary problems to the nation ?
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Banda / May 20, 2014
Deperate, You have your outlook and views from afar. I see thing at close quarter. We have nothing in common and not going to change that. End of the story.
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thondamannar / May 19, 2014
“THE DARKEST PLACES IN HELL ARE RESERVED FOR THOSE WHO MAINTAIN THEIR NEUTRALITY -IN TIMES OF MORAL CRISIS”
OR
Is it for the reason The Beast gave the Christian Faith a subordinate role to that of the Tamil Heritage??
To whom was the most venerated Marian Statue was taken for protection? The Mother was forced to join her son the Sun Goat the “duce-feurer” the divine.
The total alignment of LTTe with Christian especially the Catholic Clergy and the likes of The Beast ready to prositute their belief for material gains is written allover.
Hence the NEW Jesus who waded into Mullivaikkal waters reddened with blood to be baptised by The Beast the New John The Baptist was a mass murderer Pirabhakaran.
“it requires magnanimous generosity from the majority community towards the minorities ” … But the Majority think they are first Sinhalese…………. An Emmanuel trait learnnt..
WHAT HOPES WAS EMMANUEK SEEKING ?????????????????& the after 5 years?
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Native Vedda / May 19, 2014
thondamannar
“THE DARKEST PLACES IN HELL ARE RESERVED FOR THOSE WHO MAINTAIN THEIR NEUTRALITY IN TIMES OF MORAL CRISIS”
In other words,
The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.
Albert Einstein
He meant people like you when he said ” but because of the people who don’t do anything about it”
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paul / May 19, 2014
Fr Emmanuel you and the diaspora supported and financed the LTTE. You wanted a Tamil speaking dictator to rule didn’t you?
Have you heard MR speaking in Tamil? You have got your wish. Don’t start complaining now!
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Rev'd.Fr.Xavier Soosainayagam / May 20, 2014
Hai..First of all.Thank you Sir…My Greatest..Guru always Rt.Rev’d.Dr.Sebastiampillai Joseph Emmanual…Liberation theology..indeed…Our POPE FRANCIS is from so called third world country (Bravo Romano Catholicno)…the whole world Roman Catholics have chosen him as our GREAT LEADER….WHY…He is the man for HUMAN RIGHTS…WHY..HE IS THE MAN AT THIS TIME….the Almighty GOD has chosen him..to VOICE OUT FOR THE POOR AND NEEDY..WHY… he was born as poor Railway Cooly man(his father was)…we are behind him ..because…SO..WHAT….WHAT OUR RT.REV’D.S.J.Emmanual..has writen …is ABOUT…DEMOCRACY…he has spoken about equal oppourtunity…for Majority and Minor Tamil community..what is wrong in that…We as So call Diaspora…WE ARE BEHIND HIM…such a Great Guy…Love you S.J.Such a Great Man…
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Thondamannar / May 20, 2014
Selling the Cassoack & Jesus & Catholism for Tamil Heritage.
“A short sighted cooley called …….xxx…Rev’d fr. Xavier Soosainayagam,Our POPE FRANCIS is from so called third world country (Bravo Romano Catholicno”)……… Yeah with Italian roots ???
“the whole world Roman Catholics have chosen him as our GREAT LEADER….WHY” …….. Not me probably because the CIA has given the green light not The Almighty………….
“WHAT OUR RT.REV’D.S.J.Emmanual..has writen …is ABOUT…DEMOCRACY…he has spoken about equal oppourtunity…for Majority and Minor Tamil community..what is wrong” ……………. So the so called democracy is about being ruled by a RUTHLESS TAMIL KILLER…..
“We as So call Diaspora…WE ARE BEHIND HIM…such a Great Guy…Love you S.J.Such a Great Man…”……… Hi! Soosainayagam, Sxcking up to SJ being diaspora. How Great Thou Art xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Rev.Devil / May 21, 2014
Thonda….I didn’t want to go through this writing of Fr.SJ !!?
He has to give an account for his unconditional support to Mr.VP on all his crimes on his own Tamil people – boasting to create a separate state and ended up in a shameful pit.
Gnanasara There is a bull in a metal shop but S.J is a Jackal among his Hyena friends with the head full of educational stuffs, which were used to help a total evil. But still he continue to paint that evil as something necessary.
Being one of South Asia’s intellectuals, Fr.S J couldn’t use his knowledge on constructive line of thinking.
Gnanasara and S J, both Manifest violence but sadly they both find it very comfortable to hide their cruel faces behind the robes – not at all worried about disgracing their religious faith.
Now Fr.S J better stop writing here and there to blame others. Instead he should recall the days with VP, and throw the lines of ”Platters” in the air towards him as follows…;
”I HAVE PLAYED THE GAME BUT TO MY REAL SHAME !!
YOU’V LEFT ME TO GRIEVE ALL ALONE ! …BUT…..
OH YES I’M THE GREAT PRETENDER !!
MY NEED IS SUCH I PRETEND TOO MUCH….
I AM LONELY BUT NO ONE CAN TELL….
OH ..OH…OHH..YES ! i’M THE GREAT PRETENDER,,,,
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rev.xavier soosainayagam. / May 21, 2014
Hai..Rt.Rev’d.Dr.Sebastiampillai Joseph Emmanual…Dear Sir..What you are doining is remarakable..wonderful…….fANTASTIC….INWANTED…INDATED..INTHEOLOLOGIGICAL……….not becauuse I am a Tmail AND WAS A ROMANO CATHOLICANO WAS ..NOW I am a ANGLICANO……because you are SPEAKING FOR THE WHOLE OF HUMANITY…Dear Sir…You are my GURU…LIBERATION THEOLOGY …THEOLOGY ……SIR…..WHICH OUR DEAREST PONTIFF…PAPPA PONTIFF…….POPE..FRANCIS….PROMOTE….STAND BY THE POOR AND DOWN..TRODDEN AND NEEDY…AND THE PEACE AND JUSTICE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD…SO we and the the community of CHURCH OF ENGLAND FULLY SUPPORT AND PRAY FOR HIS EFFORT AND BRING ABOUT PEACE AND HARMONY IN OUR MOTHERLAND SRILANKA… BRAEVO…TREBIAN..GOREMAGOTH..(Irish) Gracia…Mercy Bokku…valha thamilagam thanthaiyanthye..PUGUDAM VALHA…TAMIL PUTHALVEVE…NAMM NADU NAKKAKKU VEDUUMME…Fr.Xavier soosainayagam,London,The United Kingdom. Europa,Europe.
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Rajan Walpola / May 21, 2014
Sonna
It appears the moon starts maturing. It is seasonal man and everything will be fine after two more weeks.
Until then – Just calm down man and pray continuously for your deceased savior who is in the Everlasting Hell for the valuable merits collected for 30 odd years.
This Guru(lugoya) Emmanual fellow is also not far from joining your savior. He will have his Judgment day in near future he cannot fool the All Mighty.
Just calm down.
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kali / May 21, 2014
Rev Emmanuel:
***Though the Government and their media doing their utmost to portray me and my engagement during the last two decades as pro-terrorist and pro-separatist.
What the GOSL or their mouth piece says is not GOSPEL but GARBAGE. We were the victims and we fought for Freedom from Sinhalese Tyranny and I make no apology to any one and you don’t have to apologise to any one except God.
Menachem Begin and Yitzak Shamir both fought against the Brits and were branded as terrorists at the time but went on to become leaders of their country.
How refreshing to see 20 million Racists are now Bootlicking Modi but it wont work and any attempt to hoodwink the World is a futile exercise and MR will pay for his sins. HAGUE beckons.
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thondamannar / May 21, 2014
Its not boot licking BUT one rey,xavier soosainayagan sucking up to sebastianpillai joseph emmanuel having crossed over to the otherside of the divide of the church of jesus christ..
When on the same side xavier was sooping SJE.
nobody boot licked Modi and it was Modi who wants all regional leaders to be present at his swearing in ceremony,
Neither S.J.Emmanuel or Rudra or J.lalitha has been invited.
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Rajan Walpola / May 21, 2014
Kali(Amma) aka Kalu Amma
Seems to be day-dreaming about Hague? Heh? Keep dreaming my dear till you kiss the dust. Taking MR is to Hague is your fantasy dream and will never happen in your life.
You Die-Ass-Poo-ra losers always remind me about the story of the big Billy goat and his large private parts hanging from a thin scrotum.
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Candidly / May 26, 2014
Just to note here that one of the most significant developments demonstrating the decline in support for Tamil separatism in the West occurred in London on May 18th this year. Since the end of the war and the crushing defeat of the Tamil Tigers in May 2009 their supporters in the West have been able to obtain messages of condolences from the UK’s main party leaders for their May rallies in London lamenting that defeat. In effect the Tigers had been able to get mainstream UK political support for their separatist objectives, their terrorist methods and their myth of genocide from the UK’s main political leaders in the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties as well as from the major of London.
This year, for the first time since the end of the Sri Lankan war, none of the 3 main UK parties nor London’s mayor sent messages to the Tiger’s rally in Trafalgar Square in London. This is a significant blow to the cause of Tamil separatism in the West and to its leaders such as Emmanuel, Surendiran and Rudrakumaran and has not been picked up on by any of the Sri Lankan linked media.
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