14 October, 2024

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How Can We Celebrate The 75th Independence Day? – Global Tamil Civil Society

Dear Sinhala Brethren,

We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools” – Martin Luther King jr

We wish to live in a conflict-free Sri Lanka where we can join in to celebrate Island’s 75th Independence day as much as you do. Both communities lost thousands of lives and limbs and caused enormous pain and unimaginable suffering. We became poorer and beg the international community. Brothers and sisters, let us address our grievances and aspirations to end all conflicts. Let us rebuild our beautiful island where all feel equal and dignified.

Sri Lanka is our island too. How it has alienated the Tamils since Independence is a clear indication of that deliberate policy of discrimination that became constitutionalised and institutionalised. For us to celebrate independence as much as you do, we need our Sinhala brethren to address sincerely our longstanding grievances and aspirations now. Such acts of justice will not cause any harm to any other people. It will neither uproot anyone, restrict their freedom of movement nor deprive them of their rights in whatever form of devolution.

It is not at all about the separation of our beautiful island, but it is to ensure that the island celebrates undivided patriotism, powersharing is inevitable and reassuring the individual rights and collective rights of all the people through a plurinational democracy. Let us explore tried and tested models in the world that will be suitable for power sharing in Sri Lanka.

The conflicts were man-made in Sri Lanka. Worse when murder and mayhem took place in the name of peace & religion. Instead of addressing the underlying issues, the conflicts were allowed to deteriorate and then suppressed. Then it becomes a way of living and political culture. Let us be the ambassadors of goodwill. The pogroms and war have destroyed the country beyond repair. The effects of violence have not only bankrupted the country but brought the system to its knees. The state culture of violence permeated even those against violence. The mutual killings and destruction must end, apologies for the past atrocities endorsed and true acts of reconciliation shall prevail among all people. The politicians et al who robbed the people of their future are still at large, protected by the system.

The anger of future generations called for System Change and disposed of the most powerful despots from their positions. It could be regarded as the most peaceful revolution ever witnessed to dispose of the heads of government. It is the responsible conduct of those activists who stood by the people with lived experience at the forefront and pitched on peace and harmony that remains an admiration. In the same belief, we appeal to the peaceful, invigorating and generous communities to effect the necessary change peacefully on the Island.

The war-ravaged political doctrine has exposed the hegemony and lost its purpose. The same countries that supported the war efforts are calling for UN action because of the excesses that were carried out beyond International Humanitarian Law. Some countries the Sri Lankan called on to protect the sovereignty of Sri Lanka are violating our sovereignty and exploiting the economic situation. Let’s seek bilaterally acceptable universal solutions that can end unaccountability, violence, hunger and corruption with a new Social Contract that will address all past commissions and omissions. End the fear of persecution, undemocratic governance and unacceptable expenditures. Whilst we starve we cannot allocate funds for a defence force that fights no enemy or a bloated government service sector that swallows all resources that are meant for people.

The remedies cannot be brought by the statutes alone. Devolution has been absorbed into the constitution but never implemented by the legislature or judiciary. Even agreements have been made since 1957 but all agreements and negotiations have been reneged or aborted and resulted in confrontations. The real change has to come from the hearts and minds of the people. History has documented the magnanimity of the Sinhalese people who stood firm risking their own lives to defend the people and their properties in 1958, 1977 and 1983 anti-Tamil pogroms though many hundreds and thousands were sadly maimed & massacred. The survivors and injured who were robbed of their dignity were sent by ships to Tamil Homeland from refugee camps in Colombo as the final solution for those victims. Their independence and identities are to be protected wherever they are and in the territory that has protected them. It is the essential element of the realisation of human rights, non-discrimination and equality. We believe in the new generation that Sri Lanka has produced beyond the ethnic divide to end ethnic injustice.

Many of you have been visiting war-ravaged areas in the North-East and have seen for yourself the extent of the destruction the Tamil civilians were subjected to the brunt of the war. Mothers and fathers are still looking for their children. Children are still looking for their parents. Their lives have been destroyed but the Transitional justice and psychosocial support had been delayed for them. It’s a humanitarian crisis which needs an urgent and lasting solution addressing guarantees of non-recurrence. The delayed justice has taken the responsibility of justice to international fora as Sri Lanka remains the party to the crime.

It’s beyond any doubt that Sri Lanka is at a crossroad and need to be salvaged from its foundation i.e. politically and economically. We are ready, willing and able to work shoulder to shoulder with you all to salvage the country and it is high time we do away with the bloody past and overcome mistrust and hegemonic behaviour. Let’s come together to salvage this country, which was once a role model for many democracies around the world.

The injustice perpetrated over the years must be addressed to end the ongoing atrocity crimes, to embark on constitutional reforms to end the hegemony & unaccountability. The powersharing structure in the multi-ethnic and multi-national plural society of Sri Lanka is anticipated to address all ethnic conflicts. However, the power-sharing arrangement also demands a culture of impunity eradicated not only among the government but also among the people too. Sri Lanka also has to establish an independent judiciary and end state persecution by repealing the Prevention of Terrorist Act. The structure must be based on reparative justice that guarantees

the non-recurrence of atrocity crimes and cannot be denied out of any absurd claims. The conflict resolution encompasses security sector reforms including vetting all defence forces that may have contributed to the mass atrocities of 1988-1990 among Sinhala and 2009 Mullivaikal massacre.

The People’s Struggle has created an opportunity for all the people to come together. The young generation has stood steadfastly for ethnic justice, accountability and reconciliation. The outside world demands inclusive democracy and constitutional and institutional formalities. This is an unmissable opportunity for the new agents of peace and democracy to accommodate the system change envisaged that can bring peace, prosperity and democracy. Their rights are guaranteed constitutionally through structural reforms, tax reforms, food security and most importantly physical security. Their independence and identities are to be protected wherever they have been flourishing historically and the territory that has protected them.

Let there be powersharing and collective sovereignty to unify the country!

Latest comments

  • 4
    0

    The president celebrating 75th Independence Day is as he said we must celebrate the 75th Independence Anniversary, otherwise, the world will say that we are not capable of celebrating even our independence means to capability.

    It requires a certain kind of discipline, Capable with own fund not borrowed fund.
    What is today’s achievement all leaving the country?

    • 7
      1

      RBH59

      It is common sense & responsibility. Maybe stupid people like to ‘keep up with the Joneses’ with borrowed money & get into an eternal debt trap but this is a nation already in a downward spiral. The world is aware we are bankrupt, so what is there to impress with a knees up?
      I don’t mind giving to the needy but if it is to be squandered, I am not likely to be generous. It’s time we all protest most strongly to end waste & corruption.

    • 5
      0

      Dear Burt,
      what are you talking about ?

      Aren’t we srilankens parasites? They always like shortcuts. our political representiatves are our people’s mirror image. I mean the majority our people. … is not that so ?
      .
      They are not committed to productivity. Idling is their culture. They are all pundits….. they have no values…. they overestimate their so called ” 2500 year old heritage”. The truth is if they come down to ground level, they would have achieved all what they want within 5 years.

      They love and worship “surface values”: please look at us standing in front of a mirror.
      It reveals everything to you. I am also ashamed that our contribution was not enough. It’s easy to criticise, but not easy to walk the tallk, especially in south asia plagued by “sorcery and myths of an incredible nature”. Doing any bad thing, and wait to “karmic punishment” is the region’s motto. So long people are improved by their awareness, nothing would change for the benefit of the masses in the region WHICH is now 2.5billions of world population.

      Religions and politics of the region have been mixed by the people and their representatives. Europe is free from religious interference in their political decisions.
      .
      If they were non-parasites, would they repeatedly select parasitic agents??????????

  • 2
    0

    Global Tamil Civil Society, We are all humans with equal rights and need to live together in unity. There is blessing in synergy, even though there are evil and wicked robbers in every ethnic group. Let them reap what they sow. We don’t celebrate arrogant leaders, but only our freedom to be restored without being robbed, by voting for honest and serving leadership for citizens to live fulfilled. No dictators needed and hence abolish the president post. PM and parliament is enough and Bataland suppression Mulan hammerings are not needed.

  • 6
    0

    I hope that one good thing to happen from this misery & chaos is for all Sri Lankans to wake up & realise we are people of one nation, therefore, everybody should have the same right to live happily as equals, irrespective of ethnicity or difference in faith. SL, despite a high literacy rate, which I would attribute only to read & write without the capability of rational thinking, is a backward country. We still believe in divine intervention, easily taken for a ride by con artists, such frauds even endorsed by the govt. & impressed by a bunch of monks as advisors (whose knowledge of even Buddhism is questionable), exploited by the govt. to hoodwink gullible public, who are already brainwashed with ‘nationalistic’ sentiments.

    War is destructive & with despots ruling, there will always be power struggles & corruption by those exploiting the situation but it is the average people who suffer. Vietnam rose from the ashes & I hope that we, too, can rebuild the country collectively but we need people with integrity, not a bunch of self serving & corrupt yobs who have proved as useless & destructive beyond doubt.

  • 3
    0

    leelagemalli

    Thanks for the link but we are now beyond satires & criticism. I am waiting for the day when people will say enough is enough & get all these punks & their cronies rounded up Nuremberg style & give them life sentences for crimes against the people of SL. I am against violence but in this case, would not mind if they are even lynched.
    Borrowed money is squandered on useless celebrations & people are taxed on top of escalating cost of living. The world knows the corrupt practices of our politicians but we are not demanding the recovery of at least a fraction of the loot. I am not a socialist & have doubts about the JVP/NPP but they seem to be the only hope if they are serious about holding all these yobs accountable & punished as deserved.

    • 1
      0

      1/
      Raj,
      I am also against, joker YouTube video makers, however, some can summarize everything in a short time. It’s as simple as the stupid majority can understand… That’s what I thought when I sent the link.

      to see that nothing moves ahead punishing them all is a painful thing to us.

      Elephant is in the room, nobody talks about them. Now only people become very aware, that this country has no lawfulness. All are just eyewashes to the people. They know they are stupdier than appeared to be.
      .
      Sadly, for some reason about 99% of my country is indifferent or not serious and are stupid. I really don’t know why. If someone says “Sadhu Sadhu”, even educated people don’t think twice to imitate it. This is what they call culture… our culture… do you really think that if there is an election tomorrow, our people will act intelligently. No, our people are gullible and very succeptible.
      .
      tbc

      • 1
        0

        Cont.
        .
        Raj,
        2/
        Unfortunately, today our level of anger is rising (no good for our own health), however, the hellish nature of people is not fixed as easily as we think. But to tell you the truth, human psychology proves that negative thoughts can’t bring anything and positive thoughts can help us at least to some extent (but realistically).
        I believe, we should all come together to rebuild the nation before going for elections. JVP/JJB would unequivocally make statements, but their pulse feelings are yet doubtful to me. It is naive JVPrs to think that people across the country are on their side….. this is no way…. I am closely linked to diversity of news makers in that hell…. and i have my own opinions.

        This I know from my family circles (may be upper and lower middle class). Today I can’t connect with anyone because everything I see is wrong with my eyes. If everything is no right, why should I criticise ?
        And the fact, that I will not start criticizing their actions as they are my relatives and friends. But I live in my own thoughts… and declare them in my return. When I come back, I ask myself a thousand times why even small problems remain unsolved in that hell…? …. who can enlighten me with constructive arguments ?

  • 0
    2

    Do we not need to check with Sumanthiran about celebrating the Independence Day?
    He declared in 2016 that it was to be celebrated and changed his mind in 2023 to say that it a black day.
    The FP too changed its mind way back in 1967 in favour of celebration, and changed its stand some years later.
    *
    One’s view of the Independence Day depends on where one is seated I guess.

    • 0
      0

      SJ,
      My take is it depends on the evolving situation scenario, which sometimes we have no control over!!!

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