28 March, 2024

Blog

Tamil Leaders Played An Honourable Role In Restoring Constitutional Governance In Sri Lanka

By K. Mukunthan

Dr. K. Mukunthan

The historic judgement by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka that President Sirisena’s decision to dissolve Parliament on November 9 was unconstitutional and illegal is to be wholeheartedly welcomed. Though this ruling may not signal the end of the constitutional crisis, it should be recognised that this is the first time in Sri Lanka’s history the judiciary has made a momentous decision in the adjudication of the conflict between the legislature and the executive. It appears that the 19thamendment to the constitution, championed in 2015 by progressive polity including President Sirisena himself, has allowed some space for creating independent institutions, which now have the capacity to resist arbitrary actions by the Executive President.

While this progressive outcome is welcomed and respected, a learned judgement on the independence and effectiveness of various important institutions can only be made when human rights and political issues that are important to the numerically minority communities are also addressed promptly and impartially. The litmus test for the independence and impartiality of the judiciary will be when serious cases of human rights violations and war crimes are heard – particularly when the victims are Tamils and the perpetrators are security forces and those linked to the establishment. Until those responsible are prosecuted and punished, the clarion call for credible international participation will not subside.

A reflection on the recent constitutional crisis shows that for far too long Sri Lanka has been wrongly believed to be a respectable democracy, often with descriptions such as ‘the oldest democracy in Asia.’ Whenever politically inspired brutality reached alarming proportions, often with the connivance of the state, it is this façade of democracy that gave the country a convenient cover. But a deeper analysis of post-independent Sri Lanka reveals, at best, it could be described as a notional electoral democracy where transfer of power occurred after periodic elections. Realistically though, it is a highly superficial quasi-democracy with weak democratic traditions and vulnerable institutions. The violence and armed rebellions by both the Sinhala radicals and Tamil rebels – that plagued the country for decades – are testaments to this appalling mess.

‘Ethno-centric majoritarianism’ and ‘constitutional manipulations for short term self-interest’ are two fundamental faults in Sri Lankan democratic practices, which extracted a heavy toll on the Tamil community. Disenfranchisement of close to a million Tamils living in the Hill Country (1948-49) and unilateral abrogation of Pacts signed with Tamil leaders to satisfy extreme Sinhala-Buddhist nationalistic elements (1957 and 1965) are prime examples of the former. The refusal to faithfully implement the 13th amendment to the Constitution (1987) that provided limited autonomy to Provinces, and the lack of interest in accommodating Tamil aspirations in a truly pluralistic Constitution illustrate the later. Such sectarianising of governance practices continues to date as manifested in the refusal to share political power with Tamils more than nine years after the end of war, just as with the politicising of accountability processes aimed at addressing wartime human rights violations. All these lead to the burning questions among Tamils: Even if a constitutional outcome is achieved, what are the chances of it being genuinely implemented, or worse, reversed in the not-too-distant future?

It is indeed an irony of the highest degree that the Parliamentarians from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which represents the Tamil community from the North-East of Sri Lanka, find themselves in a position to play a crucial role in restoring the constitutional governance of the country – despite the undemocratic practices to which the Tamil community has historically been subjected to. Though morally and legally warranted, the risks of antagonising the Sinhala nationalistic elements which are predominantly associated with the constitutional coup cannot be underestimated. Under such polarised and poisoned political atmosphere, a constitutional outcome that would address the long-term concerns and aspirations of the Tamils is highly unlikely. The recent statement from the TNA leader and Leader of Opposition Mr. Sampanthan that “Tamils are likely to become the worst victims in Sri Lanka’s political crisis” articulates just that. TNA also had to withstand hard-line opinion among sections of Tamil populace that Tamils should sit out of the crisis in the South. It is in this context, that the pivotal role played by the TNA in restoring democracy should be valued and reciprocated by the Sinhala political constituency and key international players. It is hoped that the TNA’s timely gestures will turn out to be a useful political capital capable of delivering tangible outcomes for the future wellbeing of all communities, including the Tamils of Sri Lanka.

The constitutional coup and illegal transfer of power was entirely predicated on the perception that by hook or crook an artificial parliamentary majority could be proven, and it is the hollowness of this ‘wisdom’ that opened other possibilities including the monumental judicial intervention. In this context, in addition to the historic role played by the TNA, a broad spectrum of small but significant political parties representing different community interests and political philosophies including the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), and several progressive NGOs and social media played key roles. And they all deserve commendation.

Equally important is the international community, in particular the key western countries and India, taking an active and principled stand, which included non-recognition of the newly installed government and explicit articulation of potential economic repercussions. The economic impact of President Sirisena’s misadventure was swift and severe. It included: holding off discussions on nearly $500 million US aid program and a soft loan arrangement of $1.4 billion from Japan; EU warnings on GSP+ concessions; credit rating downgrades by Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch; continued decline of the Sri Lankan currency; freezing of hundreds of millions of private investments and sharp reduction in tourist arrivals. In fact, the present constitutional crisis and the effectiveness of the economic leverage at the disposal of the international community provide a useful blueprint, and if needed, could be replicated to deal with potential governance and accountability challenges in the future.

The twin issues of Sri Lanka’s democratic governance – the constant tug-of-war between authoritarian tendencies and independent institutions and resolving the national issue by accommodating the Tamil community into the constitutional fabric – have never been successfully addressed. In many ways, the escalating erosion of democratic governance resulting from these major faults has precipitated the present nadir. The shock to the informed citizenry and the system of governance is so severe, that perhaps this is the trigger that was needed to force an upward trajectory in the constitutional governance agenda of the country.

Driven by all the right-thinking people, institutions and leaders of the country, with active participation and support from the international community, it is hoped that Sri Lanka will embark on a new journey of justice and fair play for all its peoples in the New Year.

Dr K. Mukunthan is one of the Executive Directors of the Australian Tamil Congress (ATC). He is also a Director of Global Tamil Forum (GTF) where he is a Senior Member of the Strategic Initiatives Team.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Latest comments

  • 17
    6

    sri lankan temil peoples are very honest, hard working but due to LTTE activities they lost every thing

    • 21
      1

      Dr. K Mukunthan,

      Yes. The Tamil leaders were exemplary, very patriotic, honesty and did not sell their honor and soul to the crooks , the so-called “leaders” of the Sinhala, the, the Traitors and Quislings, Sirisena and Rajapaksa and cronies, and joined hands with the other patriotic leaders in defeating the unlawful constitutional coup. The country should thank and be greatful to all these and the People who stood by them.

      JVP played a crucial role here. JVP is dominated by the Sinhala People, and the coup conspirators could not buy them, nor many of the principled Sinhala MPs and Muslim MPs.

      Reminds me of the Sri Lankan Socialist Parties, LSSP and CP, that opposed the Citizenship Act of 1950, dominated by the majority Sinhala, who opposed it while many Tamils went along with the perks.

    • 10
      15

      W D Thilakarathna,
      “but due to LTTE activities they lost every thing”
      Not only due to LTTE activities. Due to racists activities of Wellala politicians as well. If ordinary Demala folks can get rid of these racists, self-centered and opportunistic Wellala elite politicians who live in Colombo with Sinhalese and go to North and East and mislead the ordinary people as their saviours, Sinhala and Demala people will have no problem in living peacefully in this country.

      • 17
        3

        Eagle EYE!
        LTTE id not fall from the Skye. It was created by the Sinhalese- people like you. Discrimination of the Tamils commenced over a quarter century before the so called freedom. Freedom brought in more conspicuous discrimination’s- Disenfranchisement of the upcountry Tamils, state aided Colonization,. Sinhala only act.university admission Various Riots. and many more affecting the day to day life of the Tamils.
        Dr. Munhunthan! you are in fools paradise if you expect anything better for the Tamils just because they helped to install democracy
        As I wrote in my earlier comments the first causality will be the leader of the opposition. Not that Sampanthar did anything much to to mitigate the Tamil grievances. His effort to install Ranil was much greater than what he did for the Tamils to regain their lands, release the Tamil prisoners and to search for the lost Tamils. If the Tamils gained anything it is due to the direct action of the Suffering Tamil mothers. The international community will never antagonize Ranil. by forcing settlement for the Tamils. May be if Mahinda assumes power The internationals may act in their own interest. All in all we are between the devil and the deep blue sea..

        • 8
          1

          K. Anaga: “LTTE id not fall from the Skye. It was created by the Sinhalese- people like you.”
          There is of course a lot of truth in Kanaga’s claim which can be understood by Tamils who have followed LTTE’s behaviour. For example, LTTE shot several Tamils (Tamil Government agents, Tamil politicians, Tamil teachers, Tamil university lecturers and students); they went one step further when they killed teen age kids from other Tamil rebel groups (TELO, EPRLF etc) just the same way Sinhalese killed rebel JVPers. Should I spell it out for K. Anaga? They burnt them alive at Thirunelvely junction.
          What more proof does one need that LTTE is the creation of the Sinhalese?
          Oh well, let me support what K. Anaga is saying. LTTE got truckloads of arms and ammunition from a Sinhala president — Ranasinghe Premadasa, didn’t they; and they got suitcases full of cash from another Sinhala politician — Mahinda Rajapakse who wanted to become president, didn’t they?
          So, K. Anaga, you are absolutely right; LTTE was indeed a creation of the Sinhalese. It is good for the Tamils to recognise this. Thank you, K. Anaga, for pointing this out.

          • 1
            1

            Dear Shaving Cream

            All the other groups did the same since 1970 in Jaffna…….except they saved themselves by the GOSL/GOI and now want to charge the saviors with war crime too? such is politics now we play high stake games at a global level. Victims = innocent civilians.

            Now the democratic wing the TULF has included them in the political process in the form of TNA because they are the ones who removed any credible opponents they ever had up north by killing them systematically facilitating the TULF democratic mandate?? The GOSL yet to close the cases to date……..cause the rest of the country did not pay any attention to this until the death came knocking at their doors much later. The first soldiers to die for SL brave Tamils up north in 70’s when the going was tough for the armed forces down south…….cause GOSL was saved by India just as what happened to Maldives where PLOTE raided the country to topple and the Indians saved the day too.

            Basically the Tamil Political parties/GOI(TN)/GOSL used our children to do all kind of things since 1970 to 2019. With the unfortunate death toll in the final phase of the war the one and only person who closed this affair now stand accused of all kind of things….yet another political killing of a different nature by the same geo political masters. We are so stupid we fight Tamil/Sinhala/Muslim c*** when the issues are entirely different.

            • 0
              0

              Thiyagarajah Venugopal: I don’t quite follow what you have typed, but just to say — I was agreeing with K. Anaga that LTTE was created by the Sinhalese, which is a claim that can be understood at different levels of political precision. But I certainly would be interested in what you mean, when you say “when the issues are entirely different”. If you could kindly expand on this, it will be of enormous educational benefit to the likes of K. Anaga!

              • 1
                1

                Dear SC,

                Sure. Apologies in advance if I have inadvertently misled/misused your comment please.

                (1) I was trying to point out the killings were not limited to LTTE but all the armed groups too did the same earlier.

                (2) reference to ‘when the issues are different’…….The whole affair regards to the war/mannerism/sustained/prolonged/savagery nature tells me – this was conducted from many fronts since the beginning. The people who faciliatetd this from day one/outside must have an entirely different agenda……….this can not be limited to some locally organised event alone/not feasible?

                For me I always ask the question how our children were made to kill each other for so long when all the wealth/manpower/know how could have been diverted to build the Country? (My reference of ‘our children’ includes all SL’s)

                I personally think a well planned geo political reasons behind the sustained/prolonged war until the Nation was weakened/divided enough for whoever’s interest to materialise. Never in the interest of the people of our Nation. I think the local issues/grievances were exploited for this just as this has happened in many other Nations too.
                Thank you

                • 1
                  0

                  Thiagarajah Venugopal:
                  // personally think a well planned geo political reasons //
                  There were elements of it, true. India training Tamil militants in late 70’s early 80’s, coming into SL with a Hanuman army in late 80’s, and finally helping the SL government on a grand scale to wipe out the LTTE in 2009 are facts of external interference.
                  But such external manipulation was not at all on the scale of CIA interference in South America around that time and in the Middle East in more recent times. We are a tiny island in which the major global players have shown very little interest and they would just see us as nothing more than a little appendage off India.
                  .
                  Talk about geo-political reasons, exploiting them to get Tamils a good deal etc are only in the minds of the likes of Gajen Ponnampalam, who has a huge inherited bank balance and an equal amount of stupidity. Vigneswaran is climbing on that bandwagon now.
                  .
                  Basically, we (Sinhalese and Tamils put together) did a lot of damage to ourselves, and it is vastly explained by our own stupidity than the pursuit of any geo-political game.
                  .
                  Much of the empty nationalist talk I have heard (I am referring to the period around the time your father was assassinated — he was a good man, I know, who served his local community well both as teacher and then as MP) was centred around the importance of the Trinco harbour and how Americans and/ or Indians will have an eye on it, and how they will all come to liberate Eelam because of that little hole in the beach. We know well that such imagined geo-politics didn’t help the Tamils in any way.

                  • 1
                    0

                    Dear SC

                    Thank you for the kind writeup and agree word by word all you have written. Respect the loving exchange of thoughts amongst fellow country men too.

                    The betrayal by the regional powers to train and arm our children to facilitate this to date since 1970 is noted with shock……….goes against all the norms/trust. I hope we learned something and move forward United as a Nation.

        • 2
          9

          LTTE was the military (terrorist) expression of Vaduckodai resolution. Created and supported by Tamil political class in order to achieve the Vaduckodai objectives who asked the Tamils and outside world to recognise them as their sole representatives. Their achievements in the field of terror are venerated to this day by the Tamil political class.

          Soma

          • 1
            0

            stupid somass

            “LTTE was the military (terrorist) expression of Vaduckodai resolution.”

            LTTE and EROS came first followed by Vaddukoddai Resolution in order to pacify and take control of youth anger, resentment, frustration … a brewing for long term from lack of economic development, economic, educational and job opportunities, state brutality, ……………. just like the JVP terrorists of the South, the result of Weeping Widows deliberate impoverishing stupid parochial policies.

            I believe you don’t want to understand how political economy of the country was impoverished under weeping widow and her merry men. Good.

      • 3
        2

        Eagle Eye/W D Thilakarathna, – can you please define ..”everything”?

    • 9
      2

      @WD Thilakarathna, the dreadful LTTE was a creation of the former governments of SL. It became almost impossible to live with them as well as the military. Now that they are no more, the majority and the minorities have to join forces to chase this gamarala bugger and that Tsunami thief and rascal Rajapaksa out of this country.

    • 0
      1

      W D Thilakarathna, Your kind compliments on Tamils is appreciated. Please read Ethir below for further elucidation, on the role played by LTTE.

    • 1
      6

      Not because of their CASTEISM, not Because of their TAMILNADU Oriented TRIBALISM and not because of their PReference for Suddhas.

      • 3
        0

        JD, you have nothing substantial to attack the Tamils with? Always talking about caste, Tamil Nadu, Ltte…………..? Do you have any decent arguments with substance? This is what happens when racists have no brains or substance, they come up with words which don’t make any sense and write something on the wall.

    • 5
      3

      Dear Dr. K. Mukunthan,
      .
      Why did the TNA support the UNP?
      Was it because of Morality or plain Opportunism?
      The same reason you are writing this tongue in cheek article!
      .
      The ATC and the GTF financed the war in Lanka that took countless Tamil children and youth in their prime to their deaths, while you and your siblings watched in comfort and safety from far away.
      .
      You saw how Prabahkaran used Tamil civilians as a Human Shield when he was fighting a losing battle. Instead of appealing to the LTTE to surrender and prevent the inevitable or returning to the North and fighting for the cause yourself, you choose to give hope to the LTTE of a last-minute reprieve by foreign intervention, from the inevitable.
      .
      You did make impressive protests by blocking Highways and Roads but that intervention never came. Of course, the foreign govts in countries where you form a significant vote bank (Canada, UK, Germany etc) did try to exert diplomatic pressure but the govt or the forces could not be diverted from their single-minded objective of defeating the LTTE and taking the leaders dead or alive.
      .
      An Indian Tamil’s views…
      .
      “When Colombo began to push socially progressive legislation like universal franchise, free education, women’s rights, worker’s rights etc.… Peria-Dorei class couldn’t stand it anymore. The building of causeways giving access to depressed villages … attempts to upgrade village councils to town councils…… “Enough is enough”, said the Chelvanayagams, Ponnambalams, …the upgrading of Jaffna to a municipal council was opposed tooth and nail by our Tamil leaders!”
      The writer is Mr. Sebastian Rasalingam. An Indian Tamil oppressed by Tamil Society.
      .
      See part 2

      • 0
        0

        //The ATC and the GTF financed the war in Lanka that took countless Tamil children and youth in their prime to their deaths, while you and your siblings watched in comfort and safety from far away.//

        Matey, ATC and GTF cannot even cater their function. They were poor and worse now!!

      • 2
        0

        MNIN Perera (OTC)

        I am disappointed with you, your attitude, knowledge of history, …… selective memory and recycling old one person’s observation as if it is universal truth.

        Did you know D S Senanayake opposed universal education and free education while Ponnampalam Ramanathan campaigned for free education, reference: History Of Sri Lanka by K M D Silva

        “Elections were held in 1911 for the Educated Ceylonese Seat in the colonial legislature. Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, a Tamil, ran against Sir Marcus Fernando, a Karava Sinhalese. The Govigama Sinhalese voted enmasse for Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan in order to deny Marcus Fernando a seat. “
        Caste And Exclusion In Sinhala Buddhism
        By Punya Perera
        MARCH 7, 2013 AUTHOR: COLOMBO TELEGRAPH

        Please grow up, age gracefully, ………………..

  • 6
    2

    Yes they did. Thanks. So did Muslim political leaders too.
    It is the Sinhalese politicians who dropped the sarong and the loin cloth all at once.

  • 6
    0

    Most of the people in sri lanka are not good with Ranil they stood up due to the unfairness that happened but MR crowd did not understand. jumed to position themself But as time went by, what is true was revealed, and what is fake faded away.Look what the people of sri lanka thought.Honesty is a very expensive gift. Not having with cheap people. When you gauge the expensive gift leaders did not have but sri people had.

  • 8
    4

    Hello Mukunthan.
    Thd Ramanathan brothers played a crucial role for many years to gain independence from the British. What did the Tamils get in return from the first year to the present. If not for the Tigers there would not have been a 13thA. Human beings seldom change without coerceive force. Hopefully coerceive force could be non-violent.

  • 4
    2

    Fior 22.5 million people, there are 225 Politicians. but, the Tamils and Muslims are over represented. There are about 30 Tamils and 15 muslims. when Tamils i the north were only 4.5%, they have 16 politicians. That is four fold representation. TNA is silent not because their Honorary nature, they would lose their Seats in a Delimitation of electorate.

  • 3
    4

    Part 2 to Dr. Mukunthan
    .
    (quotes shortened)
    .. a “low-caste”, ….married an Indian Tamil woman in Hatton, I was truly an out-caste paraiah among Tamils. although I was an outcaste among Tamils, I found ..my Sinhalese mates invited me to have tea with them – a strange experience for a man..always spoken to by Tamils … curt “inga va” Tamil. …
    .
    Ramanathan era was Caste Politics. … wanted caste system written into the constitution… G. G. Ponnambalam and S. J. V. Chelvanayagam was Race Politics …Caste politics continued within Tamil society
    .
    I had to carry a small stool or mat from class to class as only upper-caste could sit on chairs. My sisters were not sent to school, ..They might set fire to our house and destroy the girls if we don’t stay within our station in life”…
    .
    …1940s, … estate workers (your “disenfranchised Tamils”) did not dare take the train, …… train enters the “Tamil areas”, they knew that they could be beaten and thrown out of the moving train,….walking ……had to follow designated paths, .. take water only from designated locations. … could be suddenly torched and “cleansed” by upper-caste Tamils … Or, the walkers … do some work for a Periya-dorei, free.., to secure passage. (Sebastian Rasalingum)
    .
    Tamil leaders have systematically fuelled caste …hierarchy and even abroad they cannot desist from trumpeting their castes while paying obeisance to the LTTE leader for championing their rights.
    .
    I became conscious of how Tamils used caste system to enslave least 75 percent of the Tamil population by obtaining their services virtually free based on their belonging to the servile class.
    .
    I was ,,enlightened by this scholar Mr Rasalingam’s honest, erudite.. simple explanation … congratulations on this excellent article (Pearl Thevanayagam)

    • 2
      1

      Hi

      The shooting and killing opposition to FP/TAK/TULF/Tamil police officers/civil servants started in 1970’s

      When my Father lost the 1977 election ‘school children’ were bused in and went around my home in Karainagar with the well known local thugs shouting we do not want water/electricity/jobs/schools/hospitals/roads/fishing nets………………..development etc but only want a separate state. What would the children know??……….little did they know what was to come of their life too by the same democratic/constitutional loving ‘Tamil’ leaders??

      This was before the 1977 riots/1981 killing of my Father/1981 library burning/1983 riots/the war that ensued till 2009.

      The world knows nothing………not even the 1977 violence and violations of the 1977 election campaign itself in Tamil areas by the TULF. The cold blooded killing of teachers/families opposed to armed group recruitment of children…….many more all pushed under the carpet.

      I know the ‘low cast’ Hindu College Principle in late 70’s at my Fathers school and the hard time he had keeping his job……………………my class room was (born 1963) always arranged to have the low caste children at the back most of my education upto grade 10 (O/L). Only at St Johns during my A/L we did not have this human right abuse.

      Mid 70’s a particular low cast category was attacked/physically abused for going to temple encourage by my father and the local Police. The chariots were burned/temple burned down. The poor living space of this ‘low caste’ homes were burned down too. Most of the habitants of locality upper caste responsible for this now live in the UK can come forward and tell the world the truth.

      • 0
        1

        Dear Dr KM

        I think it is about time we call the spade a spade. We need to separate the Tamil people from the Tamil parties as they have never represented the Tamils for anything. I have gone through detailing as to what really took place and why is so through my living as a Son of Mr Thiagarajah. I really like you to stop addressing the TNA and the various armed movements as Tamil this and that please except for the crimes they have committed in SL.

        I do not look at the thugs who killed innocent Tamils people during the riots as Sinhala nor Buddhists. They are opportunisitic criminals/killers/looters period.

        Any Sri Lankan who view fellow SL as various tags/identities and abuse our democracy by creating religious/race parties to look after such interests can not have a place in our society period. They are equally to blame for all that is wrong with our country as much as the blunders caused by unfortunate GOSL administrations over time.

        We have to learn to offer feasible solutions to peoples problem ‘one for all and all for one’ basis and all else is not acceptable. Most of the identity party politics solutions were forced upon people is the recorded fact and is not inline with ‘Assertion of Democratic Principles’.

  • 1
    1

    JD you are very poor in simple arithmetic. You should go back to School. The Ceylon Tamils total 11.15% (2012 census) of the population and their number in parliament is 18 (including 2 national list MPs.) That is the number you get if you multiply 225 by 11.15%(same as in 1981) the result is 28 (roughly). So the Tamils have been short-changed by 10 seats. Next time you write check your facts.

    As for Eagle Eye, if Vellala Tamils are racists what about the govigama Sinhalese? They are angels like Wimal Weerawansa, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gothabhaya Rajapaksa, and Vasudeva Nanayakkara erstwhile Trotskyite?

  • 4
    3

    LTTE was the military (terrorist) expression of Vaduckodai resolution. Created and supported by Tamil political class in order to achieve the Vaduckodai objectives who asked the Tamils and outside world to recognise them as their sole representatives. Their achievements in the field of terror are venerated to this day by the Tamil political class.

    Soma

  • 1
    0

    What ever happened so far, It’s time have the Presidential Election NOW.
    We can not have TWO unhappy couples running GoSL.
    MS needs to go NOW, for a BETTER future of SL.
    Secondly We need the New Constitution as soon as possible.
    It’s should be written clearly in all three languages without giving rise to ambiguity.
    Thirdly Ranil W needs to go as well. He has messed up SL.
    We the Sri Lankan’s need to select suitable Parliamentarians to contest elections.
    Disqualify the corrupt and other criminals so that they aren’t seen to contest any elections

  • 1
    1

    Dear Dr Mukunthan

    Thank you. Just to be fair to all of us kindly refer as ‘TNA’ achievement but not as ‘Tamil Leaders’ as this in a democracy we have multi lingual and multi religious secular society voters in each constituent and is unfair from this angle as political views are diverse.

    This kind of collective/political appraoch resulted in carnage requires due care such your valid case in your article does not undermine the democratic nature of our Country itself?…….what TNA has achieved as quiet rightfully stated regard to constitutional rights and democracy itself upheld but at the same time being a Sri Lankan ‘Tamil’ will have other party or no party believes too and should not be labelled as such by others politics without their consent. As you may be aware since 70’s very many Tamils were killed by fellow Tamils because of this difference in politics and got elected is what we are living today…..one should not forget. This was the violation of the same constitution and the democracy itself then…….by whoever that we know.

  • 2
    1

    Mukuntha,

    The litmus test for the independence and impartiality of the judiciary will be when serious cases of human rights violations and war crimes are heard – particularly when the victims are Tamils and the perpetrators are security forces and those linked to the establishment. Until those responsible are prosecuted and punished, the clarion call for credible international participation will not subside.

    *** We are not going to get justice from within . It has to come from outside. US has taken the lead and the noose is tightening around MR”s neck. His first cousin the former Ambassodor to US has been charged with 5 counts of fraud from Money laundering to Human trafficking. More to follow and no doubt he will implicate MR, GOTHA and BASIL and many CROOKS. It was to protect MR and give him immunity by elevating him to PM MS unleahed a series of Illegal acts. Everthing has backfired and at last the World has realised that the Sinkalams cant be trusted to deliver.

  • 0
    1

    On the one hand, the tea estate workers are fighting for a liveable minimum wage and the tamil mothers in the north and east are protesting for their disappeared loved ones, release of political prisoners, etc. On the other hand, TNA is toiling to establish this ‘democracy’ in the south and fighting for a constitution that means very little for tamils. One wonders for whom are these elected tamil representatives working for – the oppressed people or the Sinhala establishment in colombo?

    • 0
      1

      Dear Thamize

      Citizens act was used for other agendas by the FP/ITAK/TULF historically- not in the interest of the Upcountry Tamils/Cast oppressed Tamils up North (has nothing to do with the GOSL acts)/and the rural Sinhala people who equally needed all the loving help in a newly born country………….tell me a one constructive thing we achieved to date in a developing country except selling our children to TN politics.

      A progressive party with the support of the educated status of Tamils should have contributed to the above in an amazing way??. The objective gentleman politics of the above grouping died when Hon SJV left the platform. Took over by the leaderships I know personally well not fit to represent any groupings in our Country let alone law abiding Tamil people.

  • 1
    1

    K. Mukunthan ~ “Tamil Leaders Played An Honourable Role In Restoring Constitutional Governance In Sri Lanka”

    TNA is the only party looking to obtain justice through democratic means. They did what they did over the impasse all Lankans are in. This is what the voters want.
    .
    By the way, Sathasivam Viyalendiran was a TNA candidate in August 2915 Parliamentary election. He won with a comfortable majority. On 02 November he switched sides to MR-team – instigated by the MR hatchet man Karuna Amman. The drama did not last long. He will never get elected again.

  • 1
    0

    Comment by Mr K.Pillia..
    TNA is/was anti-establishment political out-fit was founded by Malaysian immigrant of that Tamil chauvinist of SJV Chlavanagam that who wanted Tamil Speaking State world in the soil of Sri lanka?
    The evil politics of that SJV of Federal Party claim for Tamil rough state and blame for the Majority Sinhalese- Buddhist civilization had been occupy so-called belongs Tamils by forcefully occupy an Island by Sinhalese nationalities .

    All in all politics of ” democracy of Tamil -chauvinist” origin from that..develop ..by FP of SJV seek for “New” Nation of that Tamils satellite state in Island of Sri Lankan. Therefor that those who are living out of Indian Tamil Nadu state that claim of Tamil rough state an Island by TNA, TULF, FP and LTTE of form of struggle Gun Rule politics. It has nothing to do with nexus to the relevant in it is for that Constitutional Democracy of Island.

    Facts of history of mode of struggle of shows that were majority people advocated during their anti-colonials struggle of 425 years since 1505 for Independence of our nation sovereignty.
    But the ruthless aggression by rule of GUN point which that land occupy that majority Sinhalese-Buddhist land by Westerns….dominations.
    In the reality of historical facts, proven beyond doubt of despite that Tamils leadership are not in the political struggle for Independence and Sovereignty and rights of freedom of our nation even 425 years. While an occupation and destroyed Buddhist-Sinhalese that 2600 years of civilization by British Dutch and Portuguese’s of ruthless colonialists dominations, those Tamils were not in that!

    Where were they that Tamils in our soil, who fought for Independence and Liberation of our land 425 years ???

  • 1
    0

    Do you believed that any of right thinking citizens of Islanders are under the myth that TNA fought for regain “Parliamentary Democracy” of majority people’s vital interest on behalf of citizens of an
    Island? Or and Its Constitutional safeguard of Republic of Island by TNA ? Not at all.

    Politically that TNA is /was born out of that for proxies of war to support of ideologically guidance for the LTTE that Gun-rule oriented politics for Separate state has been done good job for Tamil Eealm in our soil last 35 years?
    TNA is far from having wide distance to accepts Norms of valued of democracy in Globally>
    I view not this of that 21st century!

    TNA living on that ” dream of Tamil -chauvinist rough regime in North -east” by eliminated Sinhalese-Buddhists civilization an Island that moral and material backing by West interest . The very interest of that USA UK EU and Indian that Hindu political project launch in Indian Ocean.

    While installed Puppet regime .by BJP and INC expanding hegemony in through out the South Asian region.
    Meanwhile TNA is strongly view that Global Tamil Forum and World Tamil Congress, as well as Tamil Diasporas well funded by USA UK and EU of Australian and Canadian white regime are behind that puppet Tamil regime in to be installed an Island by hook or crook.

    Timely ongoing UNP, TNA and JVP that an unholy alliance has created new platform for Federal State by that is the hipcorcies of “Constitutional democracy” by TNA of that $$$..!
    The politics of that TNA has no idea of become safeguard Republic Constitutional and its democracy working relationship by any way .

    We are not that fools to be believed and misled by TNA’s agitations on working for Constitutional Sovereignty by Tamil Chauvinist while that they say so.

Leave A Comment

Comments should not exceed 200 words. Embedding external links and writing in capital letters are discouraged. Commenting is automatically disabled after 5 days and approval may take up to 24 hours. Please read our Comments Policy for further details. Your email address will not be published.