Those Who Support 13A Guilty of Racism, Ethnic Disharmony & Separatism
Posted on August 6th, 2009
Dilrook Kannangara
Racism takes many forms. A living example of racism is the Tamil Elam movement. Those who support it unashamedly are also following the same racist agenda of creating a Tamil only (racist) nation. The 13A is not about creating the Tamil only country ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Tamil Elam. It is rather the compromise between Tamil racist demands and Sri Lankan national demands. In compromising with a racially motivated and racially prejudiced lot, Sri Lanka too steps down into the ugly well of racism. This is no surprise given the fact that it came from India. India is a collective of racially demarcated geographical segments with very little interactions with each other at the individual level. Can Sri Lanka be fixed to such a model? Obviously it cannot be done because Sri Lankans have always interacted extremely well with each other thanks to the absence of a racially prejudiced governance model.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Imposing the Indian idea lock, stock and barrel into the highly mixed ethnic composition of Sri Lanka was a fatal mistake. However, Sri Lanka didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t have any choice then. Today the irrelevance of the 13A is even more apparent. Millions of people have permanently left the north and settled elsewhere. Two things arise from this.
- What is the relevance of regionalised power sharing if ethnic groups are not regionalised?
- What will the people who mixed with other ethnic groups get in regionalised power sharing?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Obviously those who support the 13A do so either blindly, due to utter ignorance combined with the inability to think or for personal gain. Else they could see very clearly the absurdity of regionalised power sharing to in relation to the ethnic problem. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Why, with whom and for what do we compromise?
Some solution is better than no solution; so think the shallow thinkers. It is not so. A solution must resolve the problems and land the people in a better position than before. Giving some solution for the sake of doing so leads to a worse position than now.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ First of all why do we compromise? To satisfy Tamil aspirations. Next, with whom do we compromise? With Tamil political parties like the Tamil United Liberation Front, Tamil National Alliance, Lanka Tamil State Party (ITAK), etc. For what purpose do we compromise? To strike a balance between Tamil Elam racists and the rest.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is very clear that all the reasons for this exercise are based on ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-TamilƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ affairs. If this is not racism, nothing is racism! How about the 85% others in the country? Why do this 85% always have to bend to the demands of 15% Tamils? Why canƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t the Tamil politicians look around and realise there are other species other than Tamils?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Why the 13A?
The 13A was ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-passedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ by the parliament in 1988 and India wants it implemented. So what? CanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t the parliament scrap legislation? Of course it can. DonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t pieces of legislation become old and outdated? They do. Then why cling on the 13A when the ground realities of 1987 are not present in 2009?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The 13A, unlike the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-packageƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ of the CBK administration, never came to the open to be discussed, evaluated and debated. It avoided all that essential steps and became law. Since then Provincial Councils have come and gone; no upliftment in peoplesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ lives! People are worse off with the PCs than before. They have to pay for the mammoth cost of running these councils for no additional benefit in return. A new breed of politicians has emerged who have combined their businesses with the business of provincial councils. They use the PC system to provide business opportunities to their businesses and to step into national level politics.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ However, these wasteful, corrupt and useless thieves called provincial councillors are dwarfs when compared to their counterparts in the north and the east. Vardarajah Perumal was a classic example of what will happen. The new Eastern Chief Minister is still within the framework although his election was marred by hundreds of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim deaths. The killing spree lasted for months after the PC election.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ A worse situation is already brewing up in the north. After the war, nothing has changed in northern politics. It is the same old racists running most northern political parties. Their ideology which is based on Tamil racism, their aspirations, again based on Tamil racism, their grievances, once again based on Tamil racism have not changed at all!
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What is the magic formula that will end all Tamil racism with the 13A? What stops the TNA, ITAK, TULF and other piranhas of the infamous Vadukodai Racism of 1976 give up their demands and work for the betterment of the people of all races? Nothing! They are the only winners of the 13A.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And we are going to share power with them! It would have been better to share power with the LTTE than with the grandfathers and leftovers of the LTTE. At least the LTTE didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t depend on state coffers and taxpayer money to advance their racist aspirations. Pro-Sri Lankan politicians like Pillayan and Douglas are very rare and even they have to follow the type of politics their opponents are using just to stay in politics. The moment they are not at the helm, all hell breaks lose. Expecting a change of heart from Tamil racist politicians who ruled the north via the parliament since 1947 is foolhardy. They are out there again to takeover the north.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Essentially the 13A is an instrument for them to advance to Tamil Elam. The central government will have nothing more to do than dissolving northern and eastern provincial councils and/or trying to push its own supporters into controlling positions which ultimately defeats the 13A.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Therefore it is evident that whether the 13A works or not, after its full implementation, people are doomed either way.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Racial interpretation to everything
When power is racially divided into racially demarcated geographical segments, everything under the sun follows this model. Everything becomes racial. Water is a big subject of racism as pointed out by many thinkers. It is not at all uncommon in Sri Lanka; in fact it is only too common. Just consider what has already happened with water. The Gal Oya project and the Mahaweli project are considered ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-root causesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ of the conflict because they succeeded. The Maduru Oya project was a massacre where Tamil racists totally massacred Sinhalese farming families. Then there is the Welioya or Manelaru which means ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-sand-riverƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. What a disaster it was! Mavilaru (river) was the closest event to the flare up of violence in 2006 that ended up in the total annihilation of the LTTE in 2009. Add to these the water ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-eventsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ of Wedikanda, Manirasakulam, etc., etc.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But then why do people in other parts of the country share water peacefully? There are no water wars in Colombo even when there are severe water cuts. No water wars in Puttalam which is in the dry zone even with a very diverse population. No water wars in Hambantota which is in the arid zone (dryer than the dry zone) with a diverse population.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Why do people kill each other in some parts over water whereas in other parts they share it in harmony? The reason is the 13A or matters resembling the 13A. In simple terms, power (and hence water) sharing over racial demarcations. When water is shared through a racially demarcated framework, water becomes the object and subject of racism.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This is one big reason why regionalised power sharing must not happen. Things would be different if the north and the east have diverse populations as in other provinces. Unfortunately it is not so.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Racially denominated water wars, further
There is another side to power sharing with different racial elements connected to water. All the rivers flow from areas outside the north and the east to the north and the east. This means people living upstream decide the amount of water flow and the pollution level of the water! IsnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t that a reason to flare up a killing spree based on racial prejudice? The Mavilaru incident is a classic case. However, with the increased use of agrochemicals in these areas and climate change, the population factor is going to play a bigger role in time to come.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Should the people living upstream stop their agricultural activities? No way. Should they compromise with the other regions for their agricultural work? If so what is their understanding if not a Sinhala-Tamil or Tamil-Muslim or Muslim-Sinhala understanding?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Power sharing with regions cannot solve this problem at all. It can only turn everything into the colour of racism ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” blood red. From water to roads, from plantations to fishing fields and from schools to temples it will be the colour of blood which is the colour of racism that will be evident after the 13A.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Only a national plan can address this. Even for a national plan to work there should be mixed ethnicities in all the affected areas. Else it will again flare up with a racist outlook.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There is an even more dangerous aspect to it. Until now there were no powerful regional Sinhala and Muslim political forces. Although SLMC is active in the East it has followed a national approach to problems at most times. The Sinhalese have always gone with the national parties. However, with Tamil regionalisation this is going to change. The affected Sinhalas (the new minorities) are going to form into race-based political forces just for survival and this will be the next big event in politics. Expect a SULF (Sinhala United Liberation Front). Negotiation between two national political parties is extremely difficult. Just imagine how difficult it would be for two race-based regional parties to sort matters out! Add to this the do-anything-for-power mentality of politics. It will be riots.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This is the naked truth of the 13A which forces people to think in racial-enclave terms just like in India. India is better prepared as people of India have always lived in racially demarcated areas and India has a very strong military, a para-military and strict border control. Anti-Indian activities are very violently put down and there is no room for entertaining racial aspirations. Annadurai and others had to quickly withdraw their Dravidistan demand when faced with the unforgiving Indian aggression. However, Sri Lanka cannot do this. There are external godfathers for certain Sri Lankan communities! Any apparent injustice to them, therefore, goes international. 13A in this context is fatal not only to ethnic harmony but also to sovereignty. This actually happened in 1989. Vardarajah Perumal was given a separate army called the Tamil National Army by India when his IPKF godfathers were planning to leave him. When faced with regional water wars, etc., it will not be surprising if India does it again for the fourth time. First it was the LTTE and 31 other terror groups; secondly it was the Tamil National Army, thirdly the ENDLF (Elam National Democratic Liberation Front) which is being trained by India at this very moment. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Supporters of the 13A should follow Vardarajah Perumal to India if they donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t intend creating any trouble here. If they do intend continuing with racial slicing of this country, they must take responsibility for the ensuing violence and racial denomination of everything under the sun. However, they are not going to follow either approach because they donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t have the backbone to take a stand. Instead they are going to go with the racists ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Tamil United Liberation Front or Tamil Nadu model or whatever with a shade of racism.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Demarcation and race are not the tools of problem solving today. Destroying demarcations and total disregard of race are the modern ways to solve problems. When looked that way, Tamil aspirations, Tamil homelands and sharing power with Tamils are age old racism based problems than solutions.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:39 am
This article carries some important points warning those trying to appease Tamil separatism. It is worthy to note a rising of a SULF, which I see as a correct anticipation of the future that goes with the strong necessity to counter the threat to our own future. As a Sinhala national standing for Sinhala people, I like to note that the troubles in Sinhale’ (Hindus call Lanka, a simplified mispronunciation of the word Sinhale’ in Hindi feminine style from very ancient times) have a long history going beyond 13A to start with addressing current troubles. As a people subjected to ceremonies of hatred carried by Hinduism such as Deevali for thousands of years, name calling and vilification without any justifiable or true reason, the real root cause remains illusive to many newcomers struggling to find solutions to this crisis. Obviously, the crisis on the part of Sinhala people is both a creation by ignorance and showing magnanimity towards those seeking refuge.
We have come a long way from the top of the world to a kind of struggling feeble nation led by unworthy leaders due to many reasons that were not imaginable under prevailing conditions in the past still living in our memories. However, been bitten by the venom of ungrateful migrants and been misled to lose our own identity under a mirage of alien religious, political and social contaminations, we are in a state of uncertainty fuelled by enemies within contributing to our disintegration. This kind of challenge is something our people endured that demand action. It now demands our attention in a sense to resolve our problems and to meet the challenges posed by these alien threats in addition to a myriad of natural problems that have to be overcome to maintain our survival.
The conduct of Tamils and Hindus over many thousand years followed by recent invasions by other ethnic groups from the western hemisphere had an indescribable detrimental effect on Sinhala people and the response needed is not talk but something tangible to reflect the collective damage they have caused to Sinhala people as a nation. Talking peace and living in harmony with such evil entities that continue to engage in adversarial acts should be left to the deranged and the vermin called politicians who would barter all their belongings for crumbs to live another day who do not think beyond today.
We live in a world full of murderers occupying other’s land by slaughter of all native humans, and have become to such a low level to acknowledge such deeds as righteous and those who refuse to acknowledge such claims as criminals. But for those who lose their land under these aggressions, such arguments do not matter and in fact should be restored in reverse. It is time for Sinhala people to come out of living with the lies and deceits propagated by religious and political entities who try to deny their rights by claiming that they have come from somewhere else. Our research finds this kind of history is a blatant lie aimed at unsettling and undermining our natural rights to our own country to facilitate alien religious and political encroachments. In fact, we never come from anywhere else, but lived in our country from the time we spend life in the wild. Those who say this kind of story are the ones who came form other parts of the world and carry the burden of alien identity while enjoying our hospitality.
It is time to reject all these alien religious and political influences that contributed to dilute our values. As people who introduced noble values to the world, we do not need to spend our time to learn from those misguided outfits preaching us about our own values that they hardly understand except repeating as a cover to hide their animal characteristics. It is time to come up with a solid response to problems caused by those who challenge our existence in kind that they understand.
For those Tamil speaking migrants and the other of this ilk who do not accept the rights of Sinhala people over their land, it is time to tell them to go home. While singing hosannas to the evil, we have forgotten some of the essences of life that we respect. It is time to emphasise that life is a continuum, and no body, whether a politician or any other vermin including those who pretend to belong to us, that land like many other things is an essential need reserved for our future generations and that no one can or have any right in whatsoever manner to negotiate such universal rights. We have never taken away the right of others though it is quite reasonable for us to take theirs as compensation for the heinous crimes committed against our people as the natural law may facilitate that in our favour in the long term.
All the mess we got into is a result of those who unleashed violence on our people. Though we can argue for many solutions that deliver nothing to solve our problems, only reasonable solution to reverse the effect of such violence is the use of force to find the space to settle these aliens in their lands that have been chased out. If it is not done now, it will be much worse for those who try to force our people to accept what is not acceptable to our people.
Our enemies have shown us the problems that we have not managed in the past by creating them and it is time to learn from our enemies to come up with appropriate solutions. As a nation, we love life and work harder to live longer and to create a better opportunities for our future generations. When there are our enemies who constantly fester and undermine our efforts to achieve our goals that have no impact on those who have become our enemies, only solution available to us is to equip ourselves with the same forceful characteristics to eliminate such threats sooner because we are also removing a greater threat to our future generations if not resolved.
It is time to reject our enemies and those supporting our enemies and to stand up to our enemies to secure our future in kind they understand. We should not entertain jokers who want us to share our life with our enemies who are hell bent on destroying us. Instead, we must match them and seek their total destruction to have our freedom that we enjoyed for a long time before the internal strife and external threats that denied enjoyment of our way of life. Giving life to those interested in living is one thing. But giving life to murderers is just an act of another murderer encouraging more deaths. As a natural entity that remained attached to the land in harmony, we lack the ferocity and determination to hold on to our land like the English, Tamil and other such groups who forced on to land belonging to others to create their own Nadus. But it is an urgent necessity today to adopt countermeasures to protect our land from marauders who stop at nothing to justify their barbaric deeds. So the suggestion of having a SULF may be a storm in the teacup compared to what will happen in the near future when we are forced to stand up for our rights.