By M. A. Sumanthiran –
M A Sumanthiran
The NPC Election Campaign took a new turn last week with the government and many of its hard line allies protesting against the TNA Election ‘Manifesto’ released in Jaffna on 3rd Sept 2013. This is a new trend that commenced with the government ‘s disapproval of the TNA’s Chief Ministerial choice. It is interesting that the government arrogates to itself the right to approve or disapprove of other political parties’ choices and decisions. In fact the TNA doesn’t even seem to have the right afforded to other parties in the country. Not merely does the government attempt to foist criminal elements upon the Tamil speaking people through their own party, but they are unashamedly trying to deny the TNA its prerogative of nominating decent, upright, educated candidates for election to the Northern Province.
It is this patronising attitude that has led them to comment on the Election Statement put forward by the Tamil people. The fact that the statement was issued by the TNA – the credible representatives of the Tamil people – clearly entails that there is no necessity for the statement to have the approval of the government or those saddled with making the government’s case. The TNA is not a minor coalition partner willing to take orders from the government, however much this reality grates on a government intent on keeping the Tamil people subservient to a numerical majority. In their zeal to smear our Election Statement, they have accused the TNA of violating the constitution. Nothing can be further from the truth.
The content of this Statement is not new. It contains the political positions of the Manifesto of 2010 for which the Tamil people gave the TNA a clear mandate. These positions have been articulated by the ITAK for over 60 years. Indeed, the call for a federal structure of government from the Tamil people and fronted by the ITAK emerged only during the 1950’s. It was first articulated by SWRD Bandaranaiake a quarter of a century before in 1926 as the best form of government for ‘Ceylon’ when he delivered a series of lectures in Jaffna and penned six letters to the Ceylon Morning Leader.
The Kandyan League articulated this same idea when they made recommendations for a federal form of government to imperial commissions. More recently, on the 5th December 2002 in Oslo, the Sri Lankan government delegation led by Prof. G.L. Pieris, the current Minister of External affairs “…agreed to explore a solution founded on the principle of internal self determination in areas of historical habitation of the tamil speaking peoples, based on a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka.”
The TNA’s election Manifesto of 2010, which is quoted in the NPC Election Statement 2013, does not move an inch beyond what Bandaranaike and the Kandyan League articulated long years ago, or to which Prof G.L. Pieris agreed on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka.
What I understatedly call ‘interesting’ – indeed ‘staggering’ may be a more apt description – is that when the TNA articulates the very solutions that SWRD Bandaranaiake and GL Pieris previously committed to, and indeed which are contained in several proposals of the Sri Lankan government between 1993 and 2008, that same position becomes ‘extremist’, ‘racist’, or ‘separatist’. This is further proof that the Tamil people or their political representatives do not in fact have equal rights to the Sinhalese people and their political representatives. It seems the Tamil people are considered second-class citizens after all!
It is a goebellsian lie to claim that the TNA’s position on the need for federalism is a form of secessionism. When our Election Statement refers to “our right to exercise our option to determine what is best for us to ensure self government in the Tamil Speaking North-East of the country within a united Sri Lanka”, that is precisely what we mean. But in the gaze of this regime and its apologists – united is separate. Analogies to an Orwellian dystopia have been made before, and this is not surprising, for with this government war is indeed peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is strength. It is essential for reconciliation, therefore, that vicious lies about the ‘other’ – whether about infertility inducing sweets being distributed at Muslim owned clothing stores, or about Tamil federalists being secessionists – are rubbished and rubbished early. The purveyors of this form of hate have no place in a plural society.
In considering the specific positions taken by the TNA, it is appropriate to consider the proposal and promises made by the Sri Lankan state itself. The 1992 Parliamentary Select Committee proposals (also called the Mangala Moonesinghe proposals) to improve upon the 13 Amendment suggested the abolition of the concurrent list or radically downsizing it by moving those powers into the provincial list. Although it claimed that there should not be provisions for merger of the provinces, it suggested an Apex Council for only the North and East as a special case.
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge’s proposals of 1995, 1997 and August 2000 abandoned the unitary state model, and although it did not explicitly describe the state as federal, in content it was in fact federal. There was no concurrent list and the question of merger of the North and East was left open to be decided in consultation with the Tamil and Muslim parties. President Mahinda Rajapaksa was a member of the cabinet when all three government proposals were put forward and the new Constitution Bill was brought to Parliament with cabinet approval as a government bill.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself appointed the All Party Representatives Committee (APRC) and an Experts Committee and addressed them both in July 2006. This is what he said:
“We must explore past attempts from the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayagam Pact onwards. We must draw appropriate lessons from the experience of other countries. I will not impose a solution on the country. But you will through your deliberations provide a solution to the national problem…
“People in their own localities must take charge of their destiny and control their politico-economic environment. Central decision-making that allocates disproportionate resources has been an issue for a considerable time. In addition, it is axiomatic that devolution also needs to address issues relating to identity as well as security and socio-economic advancement, without over-reliance on the centre. In this regard, it is also important to address the question of regional minorities…
“In sum, any solution needs to as a matter of urgency devolve power for people to take charge of their own destiny. This has been tried out successfully in many parts of the world. There are many examples from around the world that we may study as we evolve a truly Sri Lankan constitutional framework including our immediate neighbour, India…
“Any solution must be seen as one that stretches to the maximum possible devolution without sacrificing the sovereignty of the country given the background to the conflict.” [emphasis added]
The Experts Committee made a recommendation for extensive devolution of power and proposed three different options on the question of the merger of the North and East.
After the war came to an end, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the government of Sri Lanka made several assurances to the UN and to India through joint communiqués and to the international community that “ …the full implementation of the 13 Amendment to the constitution and building upon it so as to achieve meaningful devolution” would be the primary means of reconciliation.
There are two limbs to this promise. The first is the full implementation of the 13 Amendment which is already part of the constitution and contains a measure of devolution in respect of police and land powers to the provinces, as well as provision for amalgamation of two to three adjacent provinces. The relevant decision makers in this regard are those within the relevant Provinces only, and not those from other Provinces.
Therefore, by calling for the full implementation of the 13 Amendment, the TNA is upholding the constitution. It is also an extension of our cooperation to the President to fulfil the promises he is now tasked with doing.
The second limb of the President’s promise is that of going beyond the 13 Amendment in the direction of more meaningful devolution. This can only mean movement in the direction of a more federal structure. Therefore the TNA’s call for meaningful devolution in a federal structure must be construed as an act of cooperation with the President and the government of Sri Lanka in fulfilling their own promises. How this cooperation may be termed as ‘violating the constitution’, ‘ LTTE agenda’, and ‘separatist’ is mindboggling to say the least!
What must be made clear is that the TNA will not bow to the reactions of all and sundry. We are unwaveringly convinced of our stance and will not be bullied into distancing ourselves from statements that we have made. As elected representatives of the Tamil people, we therefore reiterate our People’s right to exercise self-determination through a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka. We therefore insist on the full implementation of the Thirteenth Amendment and movement beyond as a necessary albeit insufficient step to resolving the national question.
*The author, M. A. Sumanthiran (B.Sc, LL.M) is a Member of Parliament through the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), a senior practicing lawyer, prominent Constitutional and Public Law expert and civil rights advocate
Pasel / September 14, 2013
Sri Lanka is a Rouge State and let defense minister and his clans run the country . Yes there is a parliamentary system and it more corrupted than you thing thugs and muderes in the parliament
Army should be in the camp and let the police administration do the daily activities
In North army influential went too far with the help of Gota
This is the reason tamil candidates want the army back in camp
Very say the army is doing election campaign to support the government side candidate
The latest news steve president son who is in the Sri Lankan navy campaign with his brother
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Park / September 14, 2013
Well said Sumanthiran. This has to be translated and above all you and Justice Wigneswaran should come on Sinhala TV and talk to the Southern masses and clear the minds. If you do not do this then you cannot blame them from following the thinking of the regime. Do not miss this chance. One day TNA should become Democratic National Alliance and become a national party and not a regional party of TNA as it stands today.
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gamini / September 14, 2013
Sumanthiran has said a mouthful, which MR and Pseudo Pundits as Dayan cannot digest. MR has appointed Rapists, Murderers, Thugs and IRCs to the rest of Provincial Councils and believed he could do the same to the North by getting Douglas Devananda type. But for his bad luck TNA has shown the way for the Sinhalese by appointing Educated Intelligent Honest individuals in preference to MR’s Thugs, Rogues and Murderers. The UNP has also fielded Educated, Intelligent Respectable people to contest the other two PCs and it is to be seen whether the elections will be free and fair.
Dayan unable to contend with the choice of the TNA is quoting DBSJ. As for DBSJ he is another Tamil along with the KP faction that betrayed VP and the LTTE to side with MR. DBSJ wrote about an abduction of KP with minute details as if he saw the drama, while living thousands of miles away. Although DBSJ tried to make it appear that KP was abducted, in effect KP was escorted from Malaysia via Bangkok to Sri Lanka. These are the Tamils who have betrayed the Tamil Cause and now realizing they will lose out to the TNA under Vigneswaran are worried about their future. Looks like KP’s plan of trying to return with Daya Master et al to gain control of the North under MR has gone awry.
Give the Devil his due, the Tamils have got hold of MR by his balls and he has no way out now. The TNA should be congratulated for the smart move that foxed MR and the Pseudo Pundits like Dayan who will be History very soon.
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Dr Dayan Jayatilleka / September 14, 2013
Oh c’mon Suma, what about the references to the LTTE in the manifesto? And you surely must have read DBS Jeyaraj’s expose of the proto-secessionist and pro-Prabhakaran themes of the TNA’s campaign, on his weblog this morning?
Here is the link.
‘Why and How Ex- SC Judge CV Wigneswaran Praised LTTE Leader Prabhakaran as a Great Hero’, http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/25697#more-25697)
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George / September 14, 2013
someone needs to something to take one’s mind off the smacking you got from Pillay :)
A nice distraction I guess …….
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Thiru / September 15, 2013
Dayan is now fully qualified to join the BBS, Ravana balaya or a similar terrorist outfits of the Sinhala Buddhist extremists.
Instead of wasting time writing articles and getting hammered, he should hit the streets with one of these outfits.
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Thiru / September 14, 2013
If Mahinda can openly say Prabhakaran is a veera (hero), why can’t TNA quote LTTE, and Wigneswaran praise LTTE Leader Prabhakaran as a Great Hero.
DBSJ is not God, and whatever he says is not gospel! He has always been anti-LTTE.
Is your logic: Sinhalese can say and do anything but Tamils can’t? This is what Tamils are struggling against for 65 years.
Your willy ways may be good as a diplomat, but not as an honest writer after retirement.
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Piranha / September 14, 2013
Dayan,
Resorting to quoting DBS Jeyaraj who is a shit stirrer on behalf of the Sri Lankan state is all you can do to support your racist Sinhala brothers who don’t want the tamils to have an elected voice in the North. Justice Wigneswaran has on many occasions expressed his belief and support for a united Sri Lanka and that does not appear to be enough for people like Dayan.
Division among the tamils caused the sorry state they are in today and when a semblance of unity behind Justice Wigneswaran appears to be forming here comes the spoiler DBS Jeyaraj and his “revelation” about the Justice thereby giving ammunition to the Sinhala racists to torpedo a golden opportunity the tamils have had in twenty five years to express their choice of local government. I bet DBS is happy that he has helped out his friend Dayan.
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Ajith / September 14, 2013
Dayan,
Don’t cover you under the LTTE reference. Can you tell what was agreed by your government during peace talks with LTTE and what is your position?
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Burt / September 14, 2013
Rightfully or wrongly VP was considered a great hero by Tamils of all walks of life if that was not true so many Tamils would not have up their life, blood and sweat for a cause that he led.
You can sit in Col and try finding fault but you have not walked in the shoes of Tamil to understand who is a hero and who is a trator.
Why dont you look at the mirror before critising others. You sold your soul for perks, lied through your teeth to the international community. Where is the just peace that was promised to the Sinhalese as well as the Tamils?
If Tamils are still on a separatist agenda that is because we have put them there. If they think VP is a hero that is because our actions have justified why VP did what he did.
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Siva / September 14, 2013
VP and his LTTE may have lost the military battle but it was VP and the LTTE that took the Tamil struggle for freedom (self-determination) to the next level by internationalizing the Tamil issue. Before VP and the LTTE, the Tamil issue was just a domestic problem within Sri Lanka but today it has become a global issue involving the International community (including the UN). VP and the LTTE should be praised for taking the Tamil issue to such a higher level. Even though he lost the military battle, he will always remain as a Great leader among the Tamils around the world.
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Native Vedda / September 14, 2013
Siva
” it was VP and the LTTE that took the Tamil struggle for freedom (self-determination) to the next level by internationalizing the Tamil issue.”
Of course VP and LTTE took Tamils for a ride and people ended up in Mullivaikkal and camps. If you want to call it next level, I would completely agree with you.
India Internationalised the whole sordid affair took it to the next level and imposed LTTE on to stupid Tamils.
India ensured that LTTE took terrorism seriously under its psychopathic leader VP. LTTE and VP became great believers of terrorism and in fact great practitioners too.
“Before VP and the LTTE, the Tamil issue was just a domestic problem within Sri Lanka”
It is still a domestic issue and will remain as such.
VP won the war for MR.
“VP and the LTTE should be praised for taking the Tamil issue to such a higher level.”
VP should be praised for electing MR and in return was buried in Mullivaikkal by MR.
“he will always remain as a Great leader among the Tamils around the world.”
VP was not a blessing in fact he was a curse to Tamils and humanity.
Why didn’t the stupid psychopath have any friends in the world? Even the only friend the Tamils thought they had was turned against them. Thanks to your stupid Thesia Thalaivar.
Remember the psychopath VP lost the war for you.
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gamini / September 15, 2013
Native I respectfully differ from your stand on VP. Not that I condone the violence of VP, but I believe he was pushed in to do what he did by the Sinhalese of this country. Had the Sinhalese after promising deals to the Tamils starting with SWRD, honoured what they promised, this country would have avoided the mayhem we experienced for the thirty years. Further if the Tamils without resorting to violence, had pleaded with the Sinhalese, Do you seriously believe they would have conceded? No, the Sinhalese certainly would have not yielded anything to the Tamils. For that matter the Sinhala Political Leadership would not have even given a hearing to the Tamils. That was the state of affairs in the country. What brought the Sinhala Govt to the Discussion Table with the Tamils? Was it not due to the Suicide Bombers who sacrificed their lives, that may have taken a good toll of Human Lives? If not otherwise do you believe the Sinhalese would have sat with the Tamils to discuss? Even now see the stance of some Chauvinist Sinhales? Today many try to blame VP alone for the thirty year carnage. I believe the Sinhalese are equally responsible for every crime that VP committed, because VP could not have clapped alone with one hand, without the hand of the Sinhalese.
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gamini / September 15, 2013
The above is not complete without clarifying who a Terrorist is and who a Freedom Fighter is. A terrorist is someone who fights to over throw a legally elected Govt. A Freedom Fighter is one who resorts to violence to win his demands when his pleas are ignored by the Powers that govern. In that respect the JVP was trying to over throw the legally established govt of the day. Therefore they definitely fall in to the category of Terrorists. On the other hand the LTTE was not trying to topple the Govt but was resorting to violence to be recognized as Equal Citizens in the country. So I will leave it for the readers to evaluate the two.
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RuwanL / September 16, 2013
Gamini, Your definition of terrorism is in err. Therefore your conclusion is not correct
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gamini / September 16, 2013
Alright smart Alec, why do not you define what Terrorism is to the readership here. Before you do that first improve your English Grammar first.
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RuwanL / September 16, 2013
“Before you do that first improve your English Grammar first”
mind your language! The definition of terrorist is – a person who use unofficial or unauthorized violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. The Tamil issue was created by the power hungry politicians on both sides and the LTTE targeted all the politicians that were against them including the politicians who were not in the government. They were obviously fighting for a political cause!
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gamini / September 16, 2013
For your information the Tamil Issue is not a Political Issue in the pursuit of Political aims. It is a struggle to win their Human Rights to be recognized as equal citizens in their country of birth whereby the Sinhalese being the Majority have denied their Rights making the Tamils second class citizens. Being denied by successive govts since Independence, today they are opting for self rule. So your assumption that the Tamils are fighting for a Political Cause is a misnomer. Now do you understand Bright Spark.
It is said a little learning is a dangerous thing. Fools rush in where Angles fear to tread. It is no wonder the country is in this plight today because we have many educated fools more than the ordinary kind, the mediocrity thanks to Free Education in our country .
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RuwanL / September 17, 2013
Can you please let us know the rights that have been denied to the Tamils? The rights are not applicable to a race but even the Sinhalese have been denied of their rights.
The LTTE did not target only the government but they killed all those who apposed their political ideology!
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Kabi / September 15, 2013
VP AND LTTE MADE THE LEGITIMATE STRUGGLE AS A TERRORIST FIGHT FOR WHICH THERE WERE BANNED IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES. TIME TO DIGEST THE TRUTHS.
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bbs dayan / September 14, 2013
Dayan the black english man!
Citing DBS Jeyaraj who was the former editor of the Tiger newspaper, Senthamarai in toronto until his over enthusiasm for the tigers caused a broken leg=== for your cause is like spitting in the sky as it will fall back on your face. As some have commented DBS makes a living by playing both sides ever since his inglorious exit from being a former tiger fan!
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Donald J Gnanakone / September 15, 2013
To Jayatileke: This is what I wrote (Politely) on FB – about the DBS Article.
@Jovita. Let me educate the FB friends about this article and the author who is nothing but a “Rabid” Anti Tiger for personal and business reasons. Despite the Non Existence of Tamil Freedom Fighters in the Island, the author cannot make any inroads into the Tamil community in Toronto and Canada as a whole or with the 1 Million Tamil diaspora.
He was totally mistaken about the spirit of the Tamil Freedom Fighters and still want to label them as “ruthless terrorist” like the Indian origin woman from Africa a friend of Tamil traitor Neelan Thirichelvam..
The author’s grand parents Jovita were pillars of the Methodist Church and long time priest @Jampettah and mother a very nice lady teacher at St.Claire’s school in Wellawatte. Both parents and grand parents are very nice people and did not consume excess alcohol. Nay NO Alcohol.
My younger sister from Methodist College was the flower girl for the wedding. The author praised the Cinnamon Garden Tamil’s elevation to the CM post and becoming the first citizen of the Tamil Homeland. Now he is really pissed off that the political chameleon who has changed colors at VVT which incidentally is my grand father’s birth place and hometown as well who was a Hindu. (Later converted cause of marriage and moved to Batticaloa as a teacher and died quite young as a father of 6).
The author has lost credibility with the Tamils as he vents his personal anger and seeks revenge on the Tamil Freedom fighters, although they all died except KP, Karuna and Pillaiyan in 2009. Tamils do not need a Cinnamon Garden Tamil and chameleon to declare what the LTTE are really are! They all know it and CW will not get any extra votes for that statement.
In fact he will be laughed at by the voters and they will tell him to go and tell that to his Sinhala family in Sinhalese and the Rajapakses.. Thank You for the enlightenment, and hope you won’t hoist the Lion Flag like the Trincomalee MP did with Ranil knowingly or unknowingly. D B S Jeyraj needs to sallow it and live with the real Tamil reality than hiding in his bunkers in Toronto…. LMAO. (I have tried to keep it short,lol).
end: I have made my comments on the selection of Wigneswaran as the CM candidate by TNA leader -Trinco MP Sampanthan and the instructions of RAW preventing Mavai, Prof. Sittrampalam, Sivagnanam or Vidyaharan becoming the CM for the NP 2 months ago. TNA will win hands down immaterial who the CM candidate is and the Tamil voters who are unable to mourn their dead or fly a Black or white flag leave alone the Tiger Flag anywhere in the Island.
The bottom line is to all the Sinhala Buddhist Racist chauvinist Extremist and hypocrites is that The Tamil aspirations, goals, and objectives cannot be destroyed, dismantled, buried and forgotten just because the 3,000 Tamil fighters were murdered and some while surrendering and others by using chemical weapons, cluster bombs and phosphorous bombs by US citizens and residents. Those are war crimes and crimes against humanity which will eventually be settled in US courts and not the UNHRC Geneva or UN New York.
Donald Gnanakone
Tamils For Justice.
Founder.
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J.Muthu / September 15, 2013
Dayan, u sick Sinhala modaya…DBSJ not a Tamil god or leader. If you think any one against LTTE, and get Tamil vote they must be day dreamers. You modaya should remember Ltte made mistake, but they never gave up their Tamils desire, just nation for their own free nation called Tamil ealam. Just wait if its free and fair election you murderers will shock and Tamils determination of their stubbornness.
WE WILL NEVER SURRENDER OUR DIGNITY, WE WILL FIGHT UNTIL WE ACHIEVE OUR GOAL FREEDOM.
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Anwar / September 19, 2013
You will get the East in your black ass dreams. This is for us Muslims. Get the freedom only in the North.
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Fathima Fukushima / September 15, 2013
Well said Dr Dayan.
EXTREMISTS on both camps are out to gun you down.
May be it is best to allow them to have a military showdown again. Who will cry genocide? Who will come crawling with white flags? Who will do circus acts to please the masters to survive? Who will cross to the other side just to survive (KP, Karuna, etc., etc.)? Who will have more war widows? Who will have war widows without a pension and rely on grease devils to make a miserable living? Tamils are f-ed up in every sense of the word!
Modaya damn Tamils had both north province and east province in 1988. Now look what they have? Only the north province!! Muslims rule the east. That too will be lost soon if they continue their extremist racist modaya attitude.
Rest in peace Dayan and let the extremists in both camps fight to a finish.
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Merry Me / September 16, 2013
When did you last purge from your derriere?
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A. Friend / September 15, 2013
why is Jeyaraj’s words so sacrosanct to you dayan, you are losing something man. So, Tamils should not even say LTTE? you moron?
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Tharisha / September 14, 2013
Well done Mr. Sumanthiran for clarifying with patience and eloquence. We, the educated Sinhalese clearly felt your manifesto was good and sharp. In fact, the Authoritarian regime is hell bent on suppressing and nullifying your manifesto for a few reasons (in my humble opinion):
1. It is going the fair way with the North becoming a province, the first and only one to break free from the crutches of the Rajapoxes.
2. If this happens, the other provinces too will have gathered enough momentum to turn tables and replicate the same.
3. The above would make a lucrative province followed by other provinces to get out of the Paws of the Passas…so the Passas would have much less to vaccum from and less ground to fondle with.
4. If the first point becomes reality, there would be a line up of states willing to sponsor other provinces to break free and enable just rule.
5. They see it as a win (war) and loose (loose North to TNA) situation…this they cannot handle, for they have had win-all ride up to now..until Mother Nature slapped NO!!
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Thushara Jayarathna / September 14, 2013
Justice C.V. Wigneswaran , Chief Minister Candidate for the Tamil National Alliance is most respectable jurist in our country. He is believed rule of law . He dedicated to establishing law and order in our country. He hasn’t raised . We believe he can implement provincial council system meaning full way. We hope he can pace present regime positive way. As a Sinhala Buddhist wishes him tribal jams bless you …
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Hashini / September 14, 2013
If Justice Vigneshwaran wins (I hope he does for the sake of integrity and credibility he brings to the table) he would effectively be the only politician to rank as the one with integrity, credibility and true qualification in the comparative category of retired general, senior diplomat etc. we all know Chandrasiri should be sweeping a palace. This regime has overlooked the most credible personalities due to their steadfastness in integrity, class and values. This is not only true with the diplomatic service but politicians, officers of the armed forces and the police! The ones that can use a computer and type a letter, speak English and read a book are at the HQ sitting on a bench while the operations run by bus-halt musicians and ugly ducks.
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Patriot / September 14, 2013
Mr. Sumanthiran should know better. How could whatever that ChndrikaK promised to win Presidency in 1994 or whatever that she discussed or offered or promised to Pirapakaran afterword through letters or at discussions or whatever be a basis for him to discus with Rajapakse government that was elected on Mahinda Chintana in 2005. Indeed, LTTE had started everything afresh with President Rajapakse.
Likewise, whatever had been promised in Oslo by Prof. G.L. Pieris on the 5th December 2002 as the head of the UNP delegation, it should have been perused by LTTE or its proxies in parliament at the time and made law. The fact that Sambandan and co chose to ignore it in the hope of winning outright Eelam is not our problem.
Its a new scenario now; LTTE is drowned in Nanthekadal. Nothing that was discussed with LTTE or its proxies are relevant now. They are bygones. Had LTTE won by chance, Pirapakaran would have done the same. He would not have discussed ‘Federal’ but declared Eelam. Government should not waste time talking about discussions with LTTE.
Sure Sumanthiran and co have the right to demand 13A and write a manifesto for the TNA. But I do not know whether Tamils are fools to accept that cannot be achieved once more. And Sumanthiran and co must accept that Sinhalas also have the right to declare their opposition to 13A and even find a way to discard it because we believe it may lead to the division of Sri Lanka and be a drag to our progress.
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gamini / September 14, 2013
Patriot, your euphoria of the War Victory is effectively over once the TNA secures the NPC on the 21st of this month. You believe the Sinhalese have a right to declare their opposition to the 13th Amendment. Who cares? This time around the Tamils are asking for their Rights in a Legal way, where the International Body will be compelled to consider and your voices will be in the wilderness. As much as the rabid Tamils did not have a right to live, you Chauvinist Sinhalese have no right to live either.
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Thiru / September 14, 2013
An excellent rebuttal to the rhetoric of the Sinhala extremist authoritarian government, president Mahinda Rajapakse’s racist rants, and the racist extremists in his wings by M. A. Sumanthiran.
I hope the international community realizes at least now the continuing deceitfulness of the Sri Lankan governments and their leaders all along for 65 years.
International community must prevail upon Sri Lanka and formulate a permanent and just solution to the long suffering Tamil people.
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Ajith / September 14, 2013
I clearly pointed out the same facts for those critiques of TNA manifesto. TNA manifesto reflects what Sri Lankan leaders agreed and failed to implement so far. IT is time to implement those proposals to save the national unity. I would like to ask those so called progressive group including Dayan Jeyatilake to Professor Vithanage to GL Peries to explain why cannot they explain to Sinhala people what our leaders and governments agreed to resolve the national problem over time.
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Cholar / September 14, 2013
well said !!
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Hela / September 14, 2013
Tough talk Sumanthiran…..tough talk. You have been showing your tiger tail to us Sinhalese for quite some time.
The real tigers (not the cardboard versions) talked tougher than you.
We see the history repeating and the outcome would be the same.
Hope you are tough enough to take full responsibility for that eventual outcome.
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bbs dayan / September 14, 2013
Hela:
Nice name you sinhala gona, are you sure it is not Hela de silva or Peiris?! You want to talk tough with the pakistani’s screwing you for supplying arms to you? Sri lanka always lived on borrowed money, borrowed tea and borrowed women from the gulf? so keep talking tough while employing your women as maids in the middle east and using south indian ‘coolies’ for the tea economy? when are you actually going to work for a living?
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / September 14, 2013
The CPA survey reported in CT today, summarizes the concerns of the people in the north as follows:
“Job opportunities, improving education, housing and improving roads and transport appear to be the most important issues for people and their community. In the last four years, majority of the respondents (63.7%) believe that development in the Northern Province has somewhat improved while 26.1% say that it has greatly improved. When it comes to personal security, 41.3% state that it has somewhat improved in the last four years while 21.6% say that there has been no change. Almost 40% believe that their livelihoods have somewhat improved while 33.9% say that there has been no change.
When selecting candidates the most important factor that matter to most respondents is that candidates are engaged in community service and village development while honest, suitable candidates with good policies come a close second. Most respondents appear optimistic about the upcoming election with 34.2% believing that the NPC elections will be free and fair and while 24% say they may be free and fair. Almost 34% of respondents believe that the TNA will win the elections while 21.7% believe it will be the UPFA”.
These results to a large extent confirm what I have perceived. I however, feel that a larger number believe that the TNA will win.
The TNA manifesto for NPC elections should have focused on these issues, projects like the ‘River for Jaffna’ and 13th amendment plus, at this point in time.
The reference to a history-no doubt sordid- that has been made irrelevant by the armed militancy, the migration of large number of Tamils and the results of the last war. It is a new page that we have to turn and a new vision that has to be formulated.
As a lawyer, you have defended the TNA manifesto quite well, but as a political manifesto at this juncture of our history, it cannot be defended, even in the face of a mule headed government.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Ajith / September 14, 2013
We will see how people of North respond to the survey.
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Fathima Fukushima / September 14, 2013
Tamil Elam, yes or no?
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Maghribi / September 15, 2013
Yes to Tamil Elam, (A separate homeland for Tamils in the North and East of Sri Lanka) which is inevitable if the government/Sinhellists (BBS/JHU/SR violates basic human rights and land grabbing. Tamils should keep this dream alive as a deterrent/hope as only a last resort. We hope and pray that every effort is made to avert this solution.
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Ceylonese / September 15, 2013
Tamils who think otherwise are fools to be subservient to the Sin-Hellists.
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Fathima Fukushima / September 16, 2013
Thank you for that honest answers.
It is easy to work with honest people than dishonest people who say one thing on odd days and another on even days!!
But Tamil Elam should NOT be allowed to extend to Muslim East. Muslims should have their homelands in the East including Trinco.
Otherwise what happened in India last week will happen to SL Muslims too.
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Thiru / September 14, 2013
From SWRD’s time Sinhalese politicians have been cheating Tamils, and it’s continuing. Do I need to say more?
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hannah.rajaratnam / September 14, 2013
Mr Sumanthiran in your last paragraph you have said it all.
13th A and BEYOND which the president Mahinda.R had promised.
13 th Amendment is enshrined in the CONSTITUTION it has to be implemented.
The presidents promise –13th Ammendment and BEYOND – is not talked about.The promise has been broken.
So where is it now.
—-‘we will not be bullied to distance ourselves(TNA) from the statements we have made’. Here lies HONESTY and INTERGRITY and pointing to failures of the Presidents promises.
—-13th Amendment and Beyond to be implemented.
—-If this does not constitute to resolving the National Question-
Solving the National Question has to be looked into further so that the North and East remains within the Sovereign State of Sri Lanka.
Mr President – what say you.?
Is it so difficult for you to let the Tamils of the North and East within the Sovereign State of Sri Lanka live in Peace and to let them be in control of their own destiny to a happier life.
This is the only way – the NATIONAL QUESTION can be solved.
TNA’s voice through Mr Sumanthiran has been heard.Mr President take this message seriously and give thought to their words.
As the Executive President you have many times threatened others saying you can do anything you want.
So go ahead,this is a ‘NATIONAAL QUESTION’.It has to be resolved soon for the SANITY of all Sri Lankans.
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citizen / September 14, 2013
I think Rajapaksa Gang can not understand what Mr. Sumanthiran written
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Vibhushana / September 14, 2013
Well, all those palawa going back to 1930s were made irrelavant after 2002 isn’t it?
UNP declared they are ready to offer Tamil Federal State. Heck we were all ready. Even JHU and JVP did not say a word in opposition. Key power browkers of the world Inida, EU, Japan and USA were here to offer their help. What happened?
It turns out your party and LTTE conterparts were planning to go “De Jure Tamil Eelam” instead of accepting Tamil Federal State. “Mokkos protocol” were being discussed as a means of permenent seperation if I can remmeber. Your so called “upright” people in TNA kicked the UNP in the guts rejecting their offer. Look up Sampathan decleration from Trinco boycotting 2005 Prex election. UNP still haven’t recovered have they?
Now that “De Jure” Eelam faild your party is back shamefully demading Tamil Federal state again! I am sorry but this is not “honoroble behaviour” that we are used to down here. Now that you have lost, you should show some humility in accepting the defeat. Your party need to take ownership of 2002 failure instead of passing the buck to LTTE.
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Wyatt K / September 14, 2013
Great reading! I always look forward to Sumanthiran’s columns!
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A. Sellathurai / September 14, 2013
The critics thing they have a sovereign right to move their goal post then and now and expect TNA to follow the same culture. Well done Sumanthiran!
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hannah.rajaratnam / September 14, 2013
hey Vibushana
Hold your horses.
You have not followed any that has been said on this thread.Low quality understanding.
‘Sorry you cannot have it’ What is the ‘IT’ you are talking about.
You want to decide my destiny.Sorry you cannot have mine to FURTHER harras me.
You have no right to decide what each individual’s aspirations are.Whether its yours in the south or mine in the North and East.
This is enshrined in the word DEMOCRACY
Do you understand the meaning of ‘the right to decide their own destiny’?
You created the LTTE and other groups.It raised its head when you guys slaughtered,looted,raped their own families,kith and kin in the south over over again – for a period of – ’58’ to ’83.
Now you want an escape route that we should not talk about it.
Sorry – Many Tamils will talk about the horrendous period.They suffered.
If you ask the Tamils about the LTTE period that you say you suffered.Too bad.We didn’t create it.YOU DID.
Watch out for the JVP whom you think you crushed,murdered and thought you got rid of.
You take care of your own and the Tamils -theirs.
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Vibhushana / September 14, 2013
hey there little gurly hannah is it?
click on my avatar here -> and read ‘Saving Cinderella’ there. come back ere afterwards and I will ask you questions to see whether you have grew up a little.
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Senguttuvan / September 15, 2013
…”More recently, on the 5th December 2002 in Oslo, the Sri Lankan government delegation led by Prof. G.L. Pieris, the current Minister of External affairs agreed to explore a solution founded on the principle of internal self determination in areas of historical habitation of the tamil speaking peoples, based on a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka.” How come Dr. Dayan Jayatilake, who has won the admiration of many for his close and careful study of the National Question, prefers – hide being a harsher term – not to educate the Sinhala electorate, including the Brothers and others influential in the Rajapakse regime, of this position taken by the good Professori who was a Senior Minister in the Governments of CBK, Ranil and now MR?
One more a fine and useful public service in educating the public by the popular lawyer and Parliamentarian Hon’ble Sumanthiran.
Senguttuvan
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Jim softy / September 15, 2013
Mr. Senguttuwan:
“”More recently, on the 5th December 2002 in Oslo, the Sri Lankan government delegation led by Prof. G.L. Pieris, the current Minister of External affairs agreed to explore a solution founded on the principle of internal self determination in areas of historical habitation of the tamil speaking peoples, “
You say MORE RECENTLY.
But ELEVEN years is a very long time. world can change a lot during that time.
How do you prove historical habitat of the Tamil speaking People ?
If it WERE PROVED TO BE AFRICA, SAUDI ARABIA OR ANTARCTICA WILL ALL THE TAMILS GO BACK THERE ?
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Senguttuvan / September 16, 2013
Jim Softy may please note “more recently” is the language of
Sumanthiran MP that I quoted. Surely, my friend, 11 years in a matter that we now discuss of antiquity bearing 2,000 years or more is somewhat insignificant – don’t you think? That applies to even a relevant period of even 60 years, I venture to suggest.
For your benefit the UNO has some basic criteria for the recognition of new countries claiming Statehood. Continuous habitation, distinct language, religious practises and places of worship, culinary habits, dress, songs and dances are some of them. Establishing continuous reality of even 500 years will be considered sufficiently convincing even by natural or statutory law.
Are you one of those like that mischievous Professor of Maths who foolishly tries to convince people Tamils came here 400 years ago from Kerala brought by the Dutch for tobacco plantation. The fraud has been smoking the wrong stuff for years – misleading poor Sinhala graduates and other youth to death and destruction from 1971 with more than one strand of his so called Chinthanas.
His destructive and disturbed mind is still at work churning out the devil’s brew.
Senguttuvan
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Wyatt K / September 15, 2013
We love you M.A. Sumanthiran! Please rescue all the people of Sri Lanka! You are the man who can restore it to its former glory and unite ALL the people…..
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Jim softy / September 15, 2013
Sumanthiran’s obedient dog is barking.
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Wyatt K / September 15, 2013
Jim: I am very proud of that fact to. In a world where there are so few positive role models, I think admiring a great man like M.A. Sumanthiran is a good thing. I went to law school myself and I admire this man immensely. In fact, of all the lawyer’s practicing in the world today, M.A. Sumanthiran is the one I admire most. He is Sri Lanka’s Abraham Lincoln my friend and it will become more apparent in time to come. At least I can say I recognized it before most….
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Backlash / September 16, 2013
This canine Jim Softy should watch his language. Reading him it is clear the man has little education, less proper upbringing and still little political or general knowledge to comment intelligently on matters of public interest. The only qualification the vermin appears to have is to be in the dark
circles of that drug-trafficking Minister Merv – the Perv.
Backlash
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Palayang yako! / September 16, 2013
BacklasH:
How dare you put JimSofty in the same category of mammal as my decent, affectionate and loyal dog!
I’ll have to make sure that “Billy” doesn’t know what you’ve said because, if he does, he will simply bark once, curl up and DIE!
You wouldn’t want that to happen to a good dog would you?
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aratai / September 15, 2013
.
Looks like Eelam War never ended… Eelam War V just started.
Lee Kuan Yew is absolutely correct in saying Tamils will never give up.
:-)
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gamini / September 15, 2013
Yes Eelam War V is a battle of wits and not with weapons. The first round MR claimed Vignaswaran not being a registered voter in the North has no right to contest. Then when MR was asked how Basil contested the Gampaha seat without being registered as a voter in Gampaha, MR and his mouth pieces in this blog is silent. Then Vignaswaran was accused of hailing VP only to be pointed that MR himself had praised VP before. MR including his Mad Professor is no match to TNA Vignaswaran, Sumanthiran et al. The bankruptcy of intelligence in MR and his UPFA is all too clear for the whole world.
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Fathima Fukushima / September 16, 2013
Absolutely!
Last time Tamils had 89,000 war widows.
This time their war widows will number 890,000 and will be mostly in Jaffna and Colombo!!
Any grease devils?? :)
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Burt / September 16, 2013
[Any grease devils??]
I can be your grease devil if you fancy it so much. Which part of the world do you live in?
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Karl SINGHAM / September 15, 2013
“As a lawyer, you have defended the TNA manifesto quite well, but as a political manifesto at this juncture of our history, it cannot be defended, even in the face of a mule headed government”.Narendran Rajasingham
Exactly.This has always been the problem with Tamil politics.The Lawyer-Politicians are committed to presenting a good argument, with selective facts,as if though they were addressing a jury,rather than engaging in practical and tactically sound politics.
Ah well;the drama goes on with electoral victory as the main goal rather than facing up to the reality at this juncture of Tamil society.
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spotlight / September 16, 2013
Voices in the wilderness. You won’t be heard above the cacophony of political opportunism and extremism.
The TNA is hitching its wagon to the devil to get what it wants – as you say electoral victory. Only time will tell what the outcome of that will be. The manifesto is meaningless as a blueprint for anything. It is a pure vote grubbing document emphasising ethnic differentiation.
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Srilankan / September 16, 2013
Dayan and DBSJ are pals and therefore it is s question of you scratch my back and I will scratch yours. This is why Dayan is quoting DBJS to counter MAS’s arguments. I want to ask Dayan whether he verified what DBJS said and found it correct before quoting him. If Dayan has not personally verified and established that all what he quotes from DBJS is correct, then he is writing rubbish
When Dayan was in Geneva, his explanation was called for by M/EA for color washing the Embassy Building. Then Dayan defended him through one of the websites of his friend DBJS
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Fathima Fukushima / September 16, 2013
September 21 TNA election victory will be far grander than the May 2009 war victory!!
So how are the LOSERS (the government) planning to get even?
This is the billion dollar question.
For a start, don’t stop Tamil Nadu fishing vessels in SL waters near Jaffna. LET them fish.
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Palayang yako! / September 16, 2013
Sumanthiran’s has been a voice of intelligence, principle and honesty since he first entered politics.
Dayan J and Jeyaraj are two opportunists who belong in the same pod,the only difference between the two being that DJ’s grammar is better than DBSJ’s!
Jeyaraj sold out to the Rajapassa government quite a while back and the newspapers that publish him still do so because it is in line with their need to curry favour with the GOSL.
Thank you Mr. Sumanthiran for an excellent piece and all of us who have had enough of the Dayan Jayatilleke’s of this country hope that his bosses do not succeed in silencing you as they did Lasantha, Taraki etc. etc.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, DAYAN J IS PART AND PARCEL OF THAT LOT AND TO PRETEND OTHERWISE IS TO DENY THE MAN’S DOCUMENTED HISTORY!
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spotlight / September 16, 2013
Is Sathya Moorthy also part of Dayan-DBSJ gang then? He seems to be raising similar arguments!!
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hannah.rajaratnam / September 16, 2013
hi Vibush–
Get back nere when you finish reading the below.
Just finished reading ‘Voice of Reason’ by Barbara Victor
on Hanan Ashrawi.
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Karl SINGHAM / September 16, 2013
Why is it that tigerists cannot engage in serious intelletual debates and resort to ad hominum attacks and character assasinations?This seems be an extension of their earlier politics:From real violence and assasinations to character assasinations.Indeed some commentataors on these pages seem to be specialists in this art.
Take someone’s arguments and debate them rather than going personal.It is the way civilized poiltical debates are conducted.One can even take Sumanthiran’s style as an example.
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WYATT K / September 17, 2013
Karl, why would you attach the Tigers to a great man like M.A. Sumanthiran. Anyone who wants a free, united and democratic Sri Lanka should support Sumanthiran. You are extremely lucky to have this man. And, someday he will be president of Sri Lanka and it will be a great nation again and it will be united!
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lynx / September 17, 2013
To debate in a civilized fashion requires research, analysis and coherent presentation of arguments. It’s very much easier to fling allegations and abuse and rhetoric.
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