By Dayan Jayatilleka –
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
I could not believe my ears when I heard Gajan Ponnambalam, an excellent parliamentary speaker, as are CV Wigneswaran, R Sampanthan and MA Sumanthiran, drawing a distinction in one of his speeches, between (a) the Indo-Lanka Accord which he said the Tamil leaders endorsed when it was signed, and (b) the 13th amendment, which he said the Tamil leaders criticized and did not embrace (I’m paraphrasing him charitably).
Four things do not seem to have occurred to him:
1. The only political lifeline that the Tamils have is that afforded by India, in the form of Prime Minister Modi’s reiterated endorsement of the 13th amendment.
2. The Sinhala supremacists are trying to de-link the 13th amendment from the Indo-Lanka accord or to delegitimize the Accord, because the latter is more difficult to dispense with.
3. Any Tamil attempt to cut the umbilical cord between the Accord and the 13th amendment only does the job of Sinhala supremacism.
4. The stance of the mainstream Tamil leaders regarding the 13th amendment should hardly be a proud memory, given the sinkhole that Tamil politics went down between 1987 and 2020, having failed to capitalize on the democratic reform that India succeeded in securing for the Tamils.
The Tamil politicians seem to be in denial about what exactly is on the regime’s agenda, though there are plenty of signals in the public domain. There is also evidence of how the hawkish regime views India and Prime Minister Modi in relation to the Tamil question.
When an individual (in this instance Ms. Shivanthi Ranasinghe) listed in official releases as ‘Deputy Director–International Relations & Foreign Media’ of the Office of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, writes a ‘Wolf Warrior’-ish article openly critical of India and its Prime Minister Modi—and me, but that’s not important– without a standard disclaimer that it represents only her personal views and not those she holds in her official capacity, it is worthy of notice. Ten excerpts from the Presidential staffer’s article follow:
1. “…Indian Premier Narendra Modi ignored all these glaring facts when he reiterated the long-hackneyed demand for ‘Tamil aspirations’ at the virtual bilateral summit with Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa on 26 September 2020.”
2. “It is just not possible to devolve power to the Tamils in the north and east.”
3. “…Thus, for PM Modi to speak of ‘Tamil aspirations’ without addressing this anomaly is questionable.”
4. “Dr. Jayatilleka…is aghast that a State Minister dared to state the obvious that the Indian Premier was out of line. Yet, as the subject minister, Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera was correct to point out that implementing the 13th Amendment or to change the unitary status of the country to a united nation is a decision solely for the people of Sri Lanka. As a subject expert, Minister Weerasekera was also correct to note that the 13th Amendment is not a solution for Sri Lanka.”
5. “This was a bilateral summit and as such, was between nation to nation. Thus, neither country can address the concerns of only one community…The very implication that arises by doing so is undiplomatic and therefore unacceptable…PM Modi committed quite a faux pas by calling on the Sri Lankan Government to ensure equality, justice, peace and respect to Tamils.”
6. “…if we are to silently concede to India simply because it is a larger force and a member of an even greater force, what should be our position if the Muslim nations collectively impose on us to deliver on the ‘aspirations’ of the Muslims?”
7. “…Therefore, it is very clear that unless force is used the 13th Amendment is not feasible. Even then, it will not resolve any real or perceived grievance, but likely create problems of unmanageable proportions.”
8. “Yet, as observed by Dr. Jayatilleka, “Prime Minister Modi only reiterated what he had said many times before”. The reasons for India’s continued interest in an unattainable objective ought to pique political analysts’ interest…India uses the 13th Amendment to keep Sri Lanka off balance.”
9. “…In this context, PM Modi was wrong to reiterate his call for the 13th Amendment’s implementation – especially when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had already articulated his position on the matter.”
10. “In the past, this has been a bait for the Tamils in the north and east to turn antagonistic to their own Government. This kind of interference on (sic) Sri Lanka’s internal affairs had not only led to the destruction of innocent lives, but had been catastrophic to India as well. Therefore, it behooves India also to move out of ‘traditional politics’ and partner with Sri Lanka towards a peaceful coexistence with all stakeholders.”
Thus, the key takeaways from the Presidential staffer’s article are as follows:
1. Prime Minister Modi transgressed egregiously when he referred to ‘Tamil aspirations’ in his virtual summit with Prime Minister Rajapaksa.
2. Prime Minister Modi should not have referred to the 13th amendment because President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has already made his views clear on the matter. The Indian PM should have deferred to the red line drawn by President Gotabaya.
3. Devolution of power to the Tamils of the North and East is off the table. The 13th amendment and a political solution for Tamil aspirations based upon that amendment, are off the table. India and its Prime Minister Narendra Modi should get with the (Gotabaya) program and operate within the Presidential parameters.
Tamil politics today are divisible into three schools of thought, all of which are irrelevant.
a) The TNA which keeps nattering on about the previous efforts to abolish the Presidency and negotiations which went beyond the 13th amendment. This is as sensible as being on a bullet-train heading one direction and complaining that its not headed in the opposite direction.
b) The Tamil radical nationalists such as Wigneswaran and Ponnambalam who try to outflank the TNA on the grounds that the latter’s strategy of partnering Ranil’s UNP and pushing for a new constitution has crashed and burned.
c) The EPDP which feels vindicated that its TNA rival has shrunk and the radical nationalists cannot deliver, while its own pragmatism and consistent stand in support of the 13th amendment has helped it secure valuable political real estate.
All these competing perspectives are irrelevant.
The TNA’s incantation about a new Constitution going beyond 13A is laughable, because the dynamic and the process is headed in exactly the opposite direction.
The Wiggy-Gajan line is no less irrelevant because the tightness of the US Presidential race means that even if Biden-Harris squeak through, there will be no viable Tamil strategy, based on the expatriate community that can take the Tamils anywhere beyond 13A, bypassing India. The only pathway to Washington DC for the Tamils is through Delhi—and Delhi has spoken: 13A is what it feels is a viable stand for India and the Tamils.
The EPDP line will, sadly, be discredited because the regime is clearly targeting the 13th amendment upon which the EPDP stands.
The simple facts are that:
(A) the 13th amendment and provincial devolution itself are about to be dismantled
(B) The Sri Lankan regime is delinking India from the Sri Lankan Tamil Question
(C) There are no factors powerful enough to take the Tamils beyond the 13th amendment
(D) Apart from India there are no factors that can even defend existing Provincial devolution and the 13th amendment
(E) It is likely that re-demarcation of the provinces will be effected so as to eliminate any Tamil ethnic majority or Tamil-speaking majority provinces
(F) Electoral reform will truncate the proportional representation component.
Therefore, four strategic conclusions are logically inevitable:
1. The Tamil struggle must be understood as a defensive struggle not an offensive one; it is to defend the 13th amendment, the existing provincial boundaries and the electoral system of proportional representation.
2. The position the Tamils take simply must interlock with the position of their most powerful potential ally, Prime Minister Modi and India, and that position is the implementation of the 13th amendment.
3. Any political, programmatic-strategic gap between the Tamils and India/Modi, would doom the former.
4. Given that the differences between the Tamil parties are rendered irrelevant due to the regime’s targeting of a political solution to the Tamil Question, provincial devolution and the 13th amendment, the broadest Tamil United Front in defense of the Accord and 13A is an urgent imperative and the only lifeboat within sight.
leelagemalli / November 4, 2020
DJ@
I did not go to read your Article, but I question, what is the alternative before them today ? Sumanthiran is obviously silent today than had been few months ago. I have no doubt, not only in nothern areas, but also in sourthern provinces, 89 style insurgency may be now in making…
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Cheating politicians of Rajapakshe political culture – would allow them buying TNA or MUSLIM MPs in order to settle pro Rajaakshes amendments. and they will live up their propensities as they think is right no matter the voters expectations would be met with the other way arounds… in the mean time.
… a week ago or so, so called 20Amendement to the prevailing constitution was passed by purchase of the MPs from smaller muslim parties. Speuclations are there, they to have spent over 500 millions of tax payers funds. PCR tests are not yet performed meeting the promises made to the WHO.
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Ajith / November 4, 2020
I agree that Tamils should now concentrate on safeguard the 13th amendment minimum with possible permanent safeguard from changes in the future whoever and whatever majority they get in the centre.
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Eagle Eye / November 5, 2020
Ajith,
What is good for the country should be decided by Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo who are the Native people and not by neighbors or people brought to this country by colonial rulers who were given citizenship by Sinhalayo.
It is a pity that Sinhala politicians do not consult Vedda Eththo when taking decisions that affects the nation and give prominence to people who got citizenship by Registration.
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Cicero / November 5, 2020
Sinhalese are kallathonis. The Salagama came to peel cinnamon during Dutch times. The Karawe came from the coromandel coast to fish or as they claim they are from the Kaurava clan of the Mahabaratha. The berawa came to beat drums. The durawa to tap toddy. They all came from India. If they can please go back to India, we Tamils and Muslims can bring peace to our island home. Just a joke Eagle. Please stay around. Eagles, even when short-sighted, are good scavengers.
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RAVI PERERA / November 6, 2020
Karava, Salagama and Durawe communities make up lof about 9% of the sinhala community. Whilst these communities came from Kerala they married sinhala women and naturalised. These communities are very much a part of sinhala community now and even played a part in defeating the tamils recently. You Tamils are karadara karayas everywhere. Go back to your homeland Tamil Nadu.
Accept man you have been defeated
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Native Vedda / November 6, 2020
RAVI PERERA
The Sinhala Speaking Proud Demela
–
“Whilst these communities came from Kerala they married sinhala women and naturalised. “
–
The Sinhala Women you mention above were the early converts/descendants of early converts of the South Indian Kallathonie migrants as you are. Prof Gananath Obeyesekere believes all those racist Sinhala/Buddhists nationalist extremist are recent arrivals and converts. You are one of them.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 5, 2020
Dear Dayan
We Tamils of SL do not need lifeline from India…..however your friends in the TNA (FP/TULF/TNA were never Tamils leaders..a thuggery outfit who got their way through gun trotting no GOSL bother to clean up then in 70’s) may have needed India for their survival time to time just as they needed the GOSL to survive and used to being shuttled between India and Colombo during the LTTE days by the GOSL too…now a spent force….otherwise they are happy to get on with their life in Colombo a life none of us have except washing toilets overseas.
Once the Indians got the Embassy in Jaffna they do not need the TNA either period. Now the TNA has served the purpose of a foreign Nation….even a new comers from Colombo can have a ride on them too…..even well known FP pillars/political analysts queationed the TNA’s ability to develop Jaffna using NPC am not sure why they even ever thought TNA had such capacity itself is worrying?.
You see everyone won…except those Mother Lankan Children died….Soldiers/JVP’s/Tamil Militants trained in India and used as Mercenaries to tame SL so all other Asians countries..India/Malaysia/Singapore etc to share what was SL fair share of world economy from the days of the Tiger Economical boom from the 80’s.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 5, 2020
Now you all want to use Sri Lanka like a floating vessel/war ship in the Indian Ocean for all other geo political ambitions to come or are you just celebrating what has happened to Tamil people left in a limbo since the war ended without being integrated into SL “proper” just as they were in 1970 and earlier??
Speak with some Tamils in the South they will explain why they have not returned home to Jaffna Dayan?
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R Kaz / November 5, 2020
It is a Hobson’s choice for the weakened Tamils. Sadly in a generation or two there will no Tamils left in Sri Lanka, no Tamil culture as such left, all aspects of Tamil culture will be claimed by the Sinhalese as their own as it is happening now. This is what the Rajapaksas and the Sinhala nationalists want.
The post-2009 moderate line taken by the TNA has predictably hit a cul-de-sac. The Sinhala nationalists were never going to give up their hegemonic goals, the ‘liberal’ UNP was always pretending to care about equal rights for Tamils and devolution of power. The ‘all-or-nothing’ stance taken by Wiggy-Gajan is similar to the one taken by the LTTE back in the 2000s, prove to the world the real motives behind Sinhala nationalists. The question is, would it work this time when it didn’t work the last time. All it would do is to expose the phoniness behind India’s and the west’s concerns for Tamils, nothing else. Sadly the future looks very bleak for the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
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SJ / November 5, 2020
RK
“Sadly in a generation or two there will no Tamils left in Sri Lanka, no Tamil culture as such left, all aspects of Tamil culture will be claimed by the Sinhalese as their own as it is happening now.”
*
Something similar keeps being imagined about Palestine . But the struggle is alive amid betrayal by Arab Sheiks
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srikrish / November 6, 2020
“Sadly the future looks very bleak for the Tamils in Sri Lanka”.
Yes Mr RK, Unless the Tamils learn lessons from the past misadventures and take a progressive dynamic political line
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Eagle Eye / November 5, 2020
If Pakistan and Bangladesh tell to ensure equality, justice, peace and respect to Muslims in Kashmir what would be the reaction?
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Eagle Eye / November 5, 2020
Not interfering in internal affairs of sovereign countries should be the characteristic of civilized people.
When a journalist asked Mahinda Rajapakshe about the Kashmir problem he said that is an internal matter of India.
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SJ / November 5, 2020
Sorry
Kashmir is not an internal problem of India.
It is a country invaded by two rival powers of Asia. Check the UN’s position on Kashmir. India did not honour the resolution for a plebiscite.
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Rajash / November 5, 2020
“When a journalist asked Mahinda Rajapakshe about the Kashmir problem he said that is an internal matter of India.”
journalist from where? journalist of the not so glossy magazine “Publication of Hambantota Airport arrivals and departure”?
it is indeed India’s internal policy and not Sri Lanka or Mahinda’s two cents worth policy?
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Kanapathy Varunan / November 5, 2020
The war between LTTE and the government was a civil war and an internal matter. Why did the government allow the foreign participation against the Tamils and get their assistance for the Genocide.
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Stanley / November 6, 2020
KV there is no such thing as an ‘internal matter’ unless all nations and parties agree it is. Even if it was an internal matter, the LTTE too got training arms and money from foreign sources.
.
You use the term ‘genocide’ freely as though it was a given. It is not. The ICC prosecutes several crimes. First, the crime of genocide is the intent to destroy in whole or in part an ethnic, racial or religious group by killing its members or by other means – for example massacres of Sinhala villagers.
.
The ICC can also prosecute crimes against humanity such as large-scale attacks against any civilian populations such as those carried out by suicide bombers.
.
It can also prosecute war crimes such as the use of child soldiers, attacks against buildings dedicated to religion such as the Maligawa and the Anuradhapura Bo Tree.
.
No wonder the Diaspora’s attempts to get Sri Lanka to The Hague continually fail.
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Mallaiyuran / November 5, 2020
“Aadu Nanaiyuthenru Oonai Azhukutham” (The wolf is crying because the goat is getting in the rain) -A Tamil saying.
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Nathan / November 5, 2020
India is an intractable player in the Indian Ocean. US will remain distant now that they have an understanding with India to keep China out of the Indian Ocean.
The sooner Tamils and Sinhalese accept this Geo-political reality the better for all of us. India is going nowhere without 13A is seen implemented.
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SJ / November 5, 2020
N
India lost interest in 13A long ago.
There is only a pretense of interest over the past four decades.
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Ajith / November 5, 2020
SJ,
India is a super power. They never loose interest. If necessary they will even divide this island.
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SJ / November 6, 2020
A
Why is India unable to intimidate any in its ‘backyard’ except tiny landlocked Bhutan.
Even that may not last for long.
*
What will be India’s interest in divding this island? Stirring separatism within India?
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SJ / November 6, 2020
“India to keep China out of the Indian Ocean.”
N, is the Indian Ocean part of India’s territorial waters?
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soma / November 5, 2020
13A does not talk about the elephant in the room: Tamils( all Tamil speaking people scattered across the island irrespective of their religion, caste or the date of arrival) living outside NE.
It is time Sinhala side raised this issue with Modi.
With the land rights to Sinhala majority provinces the +50% Tamil presently living within would be reduced to second class citizens.
If I were a Tamil I would strongly oppose to full implementation of 13A with land and police powers.
–
Soma
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Native Vedda / November 5, 2020
soman
–
Forget 13A, your stupid often repeated lies, ………………….
–
Now can you clarify what your fellow bigot is ranting about in his typing above:
” The Wiggy-Gajan line is no less irrelevant because the tightness of the US Presidential race means that even if Biden-Harris squeak through, there will be no viable Tamil strategy, based on the expatriate community that can take the Tamils anywhere beyond 13A, bypassing India. The only pathway to Washington DC for the Tamils is through Delhi—and Delhi has spoken: 13A is what it feels is a viable stand for India and the Tamils.”
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Kanapathy Varunan / November 5, 2020
When we look back at the Sinhala Governments from 1948 and a few years behind, it is abundantly clear that the Sinhala government cannot be trusted. Not only the number of pacts which were unilaterally abrogated, even the the provincial councils established via peoples’ choice, were not given the powers as stipulated in the 13th Amendment. The government allowed the provincial councils to function like an emaciated worm under their feet to be destroyed at their will and pleasure. It was a ‘boru show piece’ to cheat the world and the Tamils and find fault with the Tamils that they are not capable of running even Provincial Council. The governments cried loud, that the PC has failed to use the non existing funds allotted to them. The governments saw to it that the funds from diaspora were not allowed in. Even when the provincial councils are allowed to function the reigns will be in the hands of the central government, who will not hesitate to to use their army directly and indirectly to ensure that the PCs do not perform. Has the government performed well despite having so much of power in their hands to run the government? All what they have done is to ‘sell’ Srilanka in instalments to foreign powers.
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Eagle Eye / November 5, 2020
Kanapathy Varunan
“it is abundantly clear that the Sinhala government cannot be trusted.”
—
Sinhalayo did not invite Demala (Tamil) people to Sinhale and did not tell Demala people brought by colonial rulers for their benefit to trust Sinhala Governments. It is Demala people who trusted Sinhala Government and obtained citizenship to live in this paradise island instead of returning to Hindusthan from where their ancestors were picked up. It is your elder’s or your choice. So live as citizens of Sri Lanka without grumbling or complain to Portuguese/British who brought your ancestors to Sinhale or find some other place.
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old codger / November 6, 2020
Eagle,
“complain to Portuguese/British who brought your ancestors to Sinhale or find some other place.”
Why don’t you complain to the Dutch who gave your Dalit ancestors a ship to Burma so that they could get ordination? The Malwatta bunch still think you guys are Dalits.
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GATAM / November 5, 2020
It is a shame for Tamils to accept 13A which was rejected by all Tamil political parties and LTTE until 2012 when PCs were forced down the throats of Tamils. All dignified Tamils must reject 13A in toto!
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SJ / November 5, 2020
G
I wonder what the ‘tala’ is that you are playing now!
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Lanka Canuck / November 5, 2020
GATAM
Are you alright?
What are you smoking these days?
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leelagemalli / November 5, 2020
GATAM,
–
what is the alternative ?
–
If Switzerland, Germany and several other rich countries can be successful with federlalism, why not we the srilankens cant ? Why dont the poltiicians mislead the nation on and on ?
:
I think only way out to lanken problems, is the federalism…. It has gone even beyond the levels of federalism in switzerland…. not just cantons, but even bezirks (small administrative units are given more powers to act individually, but not violating the rules as agreed upon under central govt).
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soma / November 6, 2020
Hello leelagemalli
A federal Sri Lanka will need huge military resources to keep it fereral.
–
Soma
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old codger / November 6, 2020
Soma,
Switzerland doesn’t have “huge military resources”. Nor does Nigeria , Malaysia, or even Mexico. Right now, our military takes more resources than education, just as a pork barrel to keep its members out of mischief .
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Native Vedda / November 6, 2020
old codger
–
“just as a pork barrel to keep its members out of mischief .”
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Don’t forget they are also trained experienced killers, most of them are war criminals too.
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soma / November 6, 2020
old c
In any of those places you mentioned there aren’t a fustated 80 million across the border.
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Soma
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old codger / November 7, 2020
Soma,
There is no need to be paranoid. There are only 67 million Tamils, not 80. That’s only 6% of the Indian population.
There is no border, and TN has no army. Just pay a visit and see if they are even interested in SL. I have.
Think positively. Hambantota port survives on vehicle trans-shipments from TN, not Korea.
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Native Vedda / November 6, 2020
soman
–
“A federal Sri Lanka will need huge military resources to keep it fereral.”
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Leave the Hindians to worry about it who have an active Armed Forces consisting of:
Active personnel 1,444,500
Reserve personnel 2,100,000
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Budget $66.9 Billion
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Let the 400,000 idling bums to focus on Agriculture, Chicken farms, barber shops, owning operating hotels, operating boats for whale watching, managing all sorts of loss making state corporations, ……… and the single handed generals Kamal and Shavendra are still fighting the LTTE although they were tasked to fight Corona.
I can see why infection is increasing.
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soma / November 6, 2020
NV
That’s how they pass time until we go federal.
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Soma
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Native Vedda / November 6, 2020
soman
–
“That’s how they pass time until we go federal.”
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Indeed you are clever.
If those 400,000 idling bums want to involve themselves in the civilian sector or jobs, strip their uniforms, disarm them, and strip their ranks, … deprive them official vehicle, authority, subsidy, …………… and then let them work in the farms, as boatmen, operate saloon, ….. ………..
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Idling bums should work as any other ordinary person,
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GATAM / November 6, 2020
Stop covering up shame and defeat mentality. Be realistic. LTTE, TULF and TNA rejected 13A for good reasons. One is the very limited and mostly overlapping powers 13A gives to PCs. Another is the governor who has all executive powers over the province (and the president of course) is appointed by the president. Another is the splitting of north from the east. Can’t you see 13A strengthened the Colombo regime at the expense of Tamills?
TNA was forced to contest PC elections since 2012 to stop TMVP and EPDP becoming sole representatives of Tamils in PCs.
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Lanka Canuck / November 6, 2020
India paid a very heavy price (including their prime minister) for the 1987 Indo-Lanka accord that included the 13th amendment. Right from 1987 till today, whether the Tamils and the Sinhalese like it or not, India will continue to secure the 13th Amendment which will go as it is into the new constitution (if any).
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chiv / November 5, 2020
Now that Rajapaksas are back, 20 A is done and dusted, US elections are over, nothing much to talk about West other than Covid, DJ seems to have returned to his favorite subject. State of Ealam to state of denial. DJ, who is Gajan ????
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srikrish / November 5, 2020
Dayan,
Thank you for a common sense approach. It is utmost important to Tamils to defend 13A as it is.
I repeat 13A word to word is a carbon copy of Indian Constitution in respect of power sharing between the Center and the States.
In the Indian Constitution, the Executive Power is exercised by the President in terms of the advice given by the Prime Minister, as long as the Prime Minister has the support of majority Members in the Lok Sabha.
The Governor in the Indian states exercises executive power in terms of the advice tendered by the Chief Minister as long as the Chief Minister has the support of the majority members of the State Council.
It is the duty of the Chief Minister to ensure that the Governor acts in terms of the Constitutional provisions.
The Provincial Councils Act No 42 of 1987 is another matter. It dilutes the powers given by the 13 A.
It is the paramount duty of Tamils to defend 13A. If the 13A is abolished or diluted, then it is next to impossible to reverse in the future.
The best strategy is to join with the majority Sinhalese and the Muslims and form a common front to defend 13 A and other repressive measures..
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GATAM / November 6, 2020
13A is the death knell of Tamil aspirations. Has it done any good for Tamils?
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soma / November 6, 2020
GATAM
Tell them the predicament of those Tamils (All Tamil speaking people scattered across the island irrespective of their religion, caste or the date of arrival) in Sinhala majority provinces when they get land and police powers.
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Soma
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Lanka Canuck / November 8, 2020
For the last 5 years, the most cunning Ranil Wickramasinghe put the Tamils to sleep with his never happening ‘new constitution’. Unlike all other Sinhala political leaders who came up with pacts and promises but finally gave nothing to the Tamils other than breaking their promises, Ranil cheated them in style silencing all the Tamil politicians (TNA & others), the Tamil Diaspora and the emotional TN politicians.
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Lanka Canuck / November 8, 2020
It is time for the Tamils (locally and abroad) to WAKEUP from their deep slumber (the entire Tamil community should rise) and become active again (should act and act fast before things become worse) with Propaganda, Lobbying, Protests (non-violent campaigns with direct action), etc. to fully implement the 13A+, human rights issues, etc. and make sure they cannot pull the Tamils down to hell. Every opportunity should be grasped by the Tamil people, parties and organizations to establish links with the International community (especially India and US) in defeating majoritarianism (Sinhala-Buddhist Supremacy) and replacing the present Unitarianism with a confederative structure. This, in a plural society such as ours, is the only suitable vehicle for democracy, equality and tolerance at all levels of government and society and culture and liberating the down-trodden and oppressed, so that they may live in peace, dignity and concord, where there is scope for all without one (majority) subsuming the others (minorities).
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SJ / November 5, 2020
“The only political lifeline that the Tamils have is that afforded by India, in the form of Prime Minister Modi’s reiterated endorsement of the 13th amendment.”
*
I wonder who the Prime Minister of India was between 2004 and 2009.
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Native Vedda / November 5, 2020
“I wonder who the Prime Minister of India was between 2004 and 2009.”
–
H. D. Deve Gowda
Gulzarilal Nanda
Chandra Shekhar
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srikrish / November 5, 2020
Native Veda,
I thought you were one of the well informed commentator in CT
Manomohan Singh was the Prime Minister of India between 2004 and 2009
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Native Vedda / November 6, 2020
srikrish
–
“I thought you were one of the well informed commentator in CT
Manomohan Singh was the Prime Minister of India between 2004 and 2009″
–
I know it was Manomohan Singh.
I just wanted to poke fun at SJ for asking silly questions and typing perverted comments that includes commission and omissions. You would have noticed he types as if he knew the facts, when challenged he mutes himself.
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It might work with his ardent supporters not in a public forum.
I can give you many instances.
Poor man, at this age he should be guiding the readers in this forum instead he is misleading them into an utopian Mao’s world.
–
You ask him a simple question how China industrialised after Long March. He will come up with all sorts of porkys. This man does not realise he is not living in the 1960s and 70s when whatever the Guruwaraya said was always right. Now there are millions of factcheck sites available where we can check. He is adamant Mao was right then he is right now.
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SJ / November 6, 2020
Thank you.
It should have been “I wonder who the Prime Minister of India was between 2014 and 2019”
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GATAM / November 6, 2020
MMS tried to save Tamils in 2009 doing another 1987. But the circumstances were different. Any Indian intervention would have killed 250,000 in the crossfire Tamil IDPs trapped in a small human farm called Menik Farm and also a good few hundred thousand in Jaffna which was an open army prison at that time. Remember? India abandoned the plan to stop massive collateral damage. SL government held Tamils as a human shield and blamed the LTTE for it!
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 6, 2020
Well before the final stages of the war Hon MR invited the LTTE very many times to come to the table with or without the arms??
It was done from the UN too??
UN vacated the space??
What did the TNA do other than hiding behind (pretend to hide) the armed forces. who had to take the bullets for them once more?? this is what we need to investigate as to why they were not sent as a front line troops to face the LTTE or talk them into protecting the innocent from dying??
That is what elected MP’s do specially if you are the ones created the LTTE in the first place????
Remember my Father took the bullet from the same children to let them know they shouldn’t go down this path??? then how come TNA was sent as a front formation/human shield for the armed forces???
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 6, 2020
Is to because we have to go through the suffering and the losses and then to go through the indignation of hereing Mr Sampanthar telling the Nation speaking from the Parliment (in a constitutional assembly) FP/TULF was never about Separatism to the people of srilanka??
Dayan your analysis are so out of order I am sorry to say??? Tamils are not the subjects of FP/TULF/Indian nor to any racisits please understand. We are Sri Lankans period.
However people who like “insurgency” (ie killing fellow man and woman to achieve ones end) like yourself and JVP want Indian love please feel free to migrate to India.
Have you checked with upcountry Tamils if they will accommodate TNA and their lovers in their space in estates please?? Please check with India beforehand tq.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 6, 2020
Once you all settled in India please keep us informed of the 200 000++ Sri Lankan Tamil refugees walking around the world with Indian Citizenship/Passport please.
How many of the fled the camps/what happened to them when they were there?? some articles will be very helpful. We yet to have series of articles of the plight of the refugees for the past 40 years?? I mean to the details you go into writing about a bloody 13th +++ utter trash we would have other details please?
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Lanka Canuck / November 7, 2020
in breaking the hold of the present Sinhala ruling class over the affairs of the country, defeating majoritarianism and replacing the present Unitarianism and centrist structure of government by a new confederative structure or consociation of nationalities. This, in a plural society such as ours, is the only suitable vehicle for democracy, according parity, equality and tolerance at all levels of government and society and culture and liberating the down-trodden and oppressed, whether Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher or other, so that they may live in peace, dignity and concord, without either class or ethnic bias and where there is scope for all without the one subsuming the other.
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soma / November 9, 2020
Mr Canuck
You seem to a another hypocrite who is trying to take us down the garden path.
Let’s begin from the beginning.
What is your definition of ‘Tamil Nation’ in respect of a ‘political solution’ ?
My definition is
All Tamil speaking people scattered across the island irrespective of their religion, caste or the date of arrival.
–
Soma
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chiv / November 7, 2020
DJ, remember Susan Rice. Her name is mentioned by many, among Biden/Harris transition team. Sec of State is one consideration. She knows Lanka as well as , back of her hand.
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Lanka Canuck / November 8, 2020
For the last 5 years, the cunning fox Ranil Wickramasinghe put the Tamils to sleep with his never happening ‘new constitution’. Unlike all other Sinhala political leaders who came up with pacts and promises but finally gave nothing to the Tamils other than breaking their promises, Ranil cheated them in style silencing all the Tamil politicians (TNA & others), the Tamil Diaspora and the emotional TN politicians.
It is time for the Tamils (locally and abroad) to WAKEUP from their deep slumber (the entire Tamil community should rise) and become active again (should act and act fast before things become worse) with Propaganda, Lobbying, Protests (non-violent campaigns with direct action), etc. to fully implement the 13A+, human rights issues, etc. and make sure they cannot pull the Tamils down to hell. Every opportunity should be grasped by the Tamil people, parties and organizations to establish links with the International community (especially India and US) in defeating majoritarianism (Sinhala-Buddhist Supremacy) and replacing the present Unitarianism with a confederative structure. This, in a plural society such as ours, is the only suitable vehicle for democracy, equality and tolerance at all levels of government and society and culture and liberating the down-trodden and oppressed, so that they may live in peace, dignity and concord, where there is scope for all without one (majority) subsuming the others (minorities).
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 8, 2020
Dear LC
I am enlisting all the Tamils Children from India/Malaysia/Singapore/Western Countries for the training in Tamil Nadu the same training camps where the first lot was trained under the TULF supervision. This time TNA will supervise.
Are you joining Dayan in WINDING UP my people so you can remove the last man standing in Jaffna?? I smell conspiracy here about anyone who tell the Sri Lankan Tamils to wakeup??? in your case global Tamils?? make sure you do not give your identity away as foreign Tamils will come after you because they were only interested in getting the Sri Lankan Jaffna children to do the dirty work for their childrens life style around the world?? what you think?
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soma / November 9, 2020
Mr Canuck
You seem to a another hypocrite who is trying to take us down the garden path.
Let’s begin from the beginning.
What is your definition of ‘Tamil Nation’ in respect of a ‘political solution’ ?
My definition is
All Tamil speaking people scattered across the island irrespective of their religion, caste or the date of arrival.
–
Soma
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Lanka Canuck / November 9, 2020
TV,
Dayan Jayatilleka was once a member of EPRLF and the Minister of Planning and Youth Affairs for the North Eastern Province between 1988 and 1989. I don’t know what conspiracy you are talking about. Neither Dayan nor me or anyone else is talking about any violent campaigns or any kind of training. Please don’t waste your time on CT writing rubbish that nobody is interested. You are simply wasting the cyber space. Nobody cares about your woes. Do something fruitful, why not go to Sri Lanka and form a political party?
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 10, 2020
Dear LC is very simple…I do not agree with 13, I do not agree with all that happened in my nation at gun point to get here…and I yet to point a gun at anyone to demand my wish too.
We were trying to build our nation and navigate via a non violent path to be a developed country and that was all interrupted by the children trained in foreign lands under the supervision of FP/TULF is a treachery and treason period.
We all lost our loved ones, lost our nation yesterday we allowed all to join the mainstream…….then we expect those to betray us once more on taking us back to all those avenues we sacrificed ourselves to move away from in the first place…..
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 10, 2020
I do not think you or Dayan or anyone else for that matter have anymore stake in anything more than we all are and will let you enjoy the space too….would not think is a waste of space either as you are a fellow being and would not talk down to you either…the same talk down attitude that bunch of children felt they can go around and pop a bullet into others and say they are fighting for a causes I did not think that existed in my Nation period.
Have a discussion on the basis we are all equals but when someone killed the other then there is think called law of the land (not the law of the jungle) they go to gallows? On behalf of the Nation of People the GOSL has always accommodated them back unlike most of other nation of the world because we are a very civilised/tolerant people.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 10, 2020
“Nobody cares about your woes”
Dude I feel the same so please go and fly your kite somewhere else too.
I here there may be some rockets leaving for outer space by NASA soon…and please go and have you battle somewhere else please.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 9, 2020
TNA silenced all the politicians and their enemies quite literally before Hon RW ever get to do that please bear that in mind.
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