{"id":114259,"date":"2013-11-09T04:01:30","date_gmt":"2013-11-08T22:31:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=114259"},"modified":"2013-11-13T03:37:51","modified_gmt":"2013-11-12T22:07:51","slug":"diaspora-responsibilities-the-misconception-of-diaspora-privilege","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/diaspora-responsibilities-the-misconception-of-diaspora-privilege\/","title":{"rendered":"Diaspora Responsibilities: The (Mis)Conception Of Diaspora Privilege"},"content":{"rendered":"

By\u00a0Romesh Hettiarachchi<\/span><\/a> \u2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Romesh<\/a>

Romesh Hettiarachchi<\/p><\/div>\n

During my visit to Sri Lanka last year, I heard many Sri Lankan communities across the island express grave reservations about “The Diaspora”. For some Sinhalese, \u201cThe Diaspora\u201d is dominated by Tamils<\/span><\/a> who uncritically support the Tamil Tigers<\/span><\/a> and their quest to create a separate mono-ethnic Eelam. I also heard from groups of Tamil Sri Lankans living in war affected communities who thought The Diaspora has forgotten them because of their belief that “The Diaspora” ignores the importance of community development in the war-affected areas.<\/p>\n

Although I continue to struggle to understand why these sentiments are expressed, it may be that many Sri Lankans do not identify with the positions taken by the global Diaspora. To these individuals, The Diaspora ought to solely facilitate and finance community development and should not shape international opinion regarding the historical and current political challenges faced on the island. As a member of the Diaspora, let me address some of the misconceptions behind this perspective.<\/p>\n

Diasporan Privilege<\/b><\/p>\n

Regardless of ethnicity, most individuals in the Diaspora are physically, mentally and psychologically disconnected from the realities of life experienced by their original people and the communities to which they live alongside (the “Diaspora Disconnect<\/a><\/span>“). In the Sri Lankan context for instance, members of the Diaspora have relatively fewer difficulties in accessing water and sanitation facilities, fair access to employment opportunities and an impartial legal system relative to their original communities in Sri Lanka. Rarely do members of the Diaspora face restrictions in their freedom of speech or live in communities where one in four people in the community carry weapons<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Due to the Diaspora Disconnect, the Diaspora is not exposed to the political, social, economic, and environmental factors that constantly influence perspectives in the original communities. Although opinions in the Diaspora may vary, there are few incentives for opinions in the Diaspora to change or be challenged. Views in the Diaspora do not change in accordance with views in the Original Community. However, by virtue of being born in and residing in countries possessing more international political clout than Sri Lanka, the Diaspora accumulates special advantages, rights and benefits in asserting their perspectives to shape international political opinion with respect to Sri Lanka than their original communities.<\/p>\n

This is not idle academic chatter. I am far more aware of the privileges I may enjoy as a member of the Diaspora after visiting communities across the island. These privileges may include:<\/p>\n