Appeal to Sri Lankan Tamils not to be misled again by Pro-LTTE TNA – a reply
Posted on October 28th, 2012
By Mario Perera, Kadawata
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Shenali, I am not faulting you for entertaining your wistful hope. But in the end good sense has to prevail. You surely know, with your wide knowledge of so many issues, that your plea to the Tamil people to distance themselves from the TNA would inevitably fall on deaf ears. You know only too well that the multiple strands that weave the Tamil psyche individually and collectively are unfathomable and evade the yardstick of normal reason. The Tamil mentality is so structured that it is held together, individually and collectively by psychological and moral bonds stronger than iron bands. These bonds are principally family ties, social ties, and religious ties. Politics is an offshoot of these three unbreakable ties and not a separate facet. The ties themselves must be considered in descending order with religion as the all pervasive element. Religion percolates through the Tamil psyche just like the marrow of a spinal cord. The features of Tamil existence are seen as and form part and parcel of a divine order.
The Tamil mind evolves in a world of gods and goddesses, of rituals and rites that are a manifestation of this divine order. The family, society and whatever other order such as the political, stems from this all pervading divine ethos. The principal element of this divine structure is the caste system. Without caste, no Tamil family, no Tamil society, no Tamil temple, no religion. Ths is what the word ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Tamil-nessƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ implies in all its ramifications.
Continuity of this self subjugation or self immolation before the divine order is the crux of the issue. Subjugation to the family, to society which includes the prevailing political order, is for them the precondition for assimilation with the divine. This fire in which this subjugation and self immolation before the divine takes place is the caste system. Therefore beyond the voice of their political leaders, what they hear is the voice of the divine. That voice, when it comes to politics, takes the form of a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”duceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ or a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”fuhrerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. The voice of that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”duceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ or ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”fuhrerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ is for them the voice of the divine. Shenali, just look at the images you have included in your article and you will understand what the Tamil psyche is all about. As for Sri Lanka just run down the line of Tamil political leaders, from Ramanathan, Ponnambalam, Chelvanayagam, Amirthalingam, Prabhakaran (who pushed this illusion to Hitlerian proportions) and now Sambandan. The ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”duce-fuhrerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ image is more than apparent. Obedience to their word goes much beyond political expediency: it has to do with religion, with the divine. The less prosaic comparison is to that of frogs in a well and the only object presenting itself to their gaze through the mouth of the well ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” a patch of the blue sky. Whatever ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”outsidersƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ to enlarge and beautify the well, even covering it plates of solid gold, would not have the least impact on the frogs living in it. What they will continually see is that blue patch over their heads.
Their religious trend is no different. There had to be a divine ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”duce-fuhrerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ to give it substance. From Chandrakanthan, through Emmanuel to Rayappu Joseph it is the same. For the first two Prabhakaran was Jesus Christ. The assimilation of the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”duce-fuhrerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ with the divine was thus achieved. As for bishop (sic) Rayappu, to whom did he take Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ most venerated Marian statue for protection? To Prabharakaran. The ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”duce-fuhrerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ is once more made to assimilate with the divine.
The crystal clear certainty is that no amount of modernization of the North (road building, construction work of all types, new infrastructures etc etc) will entice them away from the world which is their traditional construct. Those who think differently lead themselves, willingly or unwittingly down the garden path of sheer ignorance.
The only way to absolve them from their link to the system would be legislation. That will be the bitter pill with its irremediable pull towards reason and away from illusion. The stringent non-compromising measures of the law, if they are not seen as an expression of the divine, will at least leave them with an excuse to offer to the divine. Abolish the 13th Amendment and you will see how they will fall in line with the new realities. The rigour of the law is the only way. Before the law the only alternative is force, whatever be its form. But in the present context, with the annihilation of the LTTE, a revival of that option is an impossibility or so remote as to be irrelevant. To try to wean the Tamils away from the TNA grip through any and every other means is doomed to dismal failure.
There are two solutions to Tamil intransigence as regards national integration. They are not new but continue to remain suspended in the air, mostly due to outside pressure and interferences. One is, do away with this ethnic enclave in the north. The second, and more important is, do away with the 13th Amendment. In fact compliance with the second will facilitate the first.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ To put it more poignantly, the abolition of the 13th Amendment is the KEY to the overall solution. As long as the Tamils have the north for them to huddle together like the metaphoric frogs in the well, they will only see the sky as the blue patch of their dreams or of whatever colour their elite make them believe it to be. Indeed belief is the core issue here.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Tamil psyche is a labyrinth of beliefs with no exit door of reason in view. Enlargement, beautification. modernization of that enclosure even if it involves billions of dollars, does not make it cease to be a labyrinth. A golden cage is neverthelessƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a cage. Trying to engage with the Tamils while keeping them in their labyrinth is a futile exercise. Playing the politics of the ostrich only serves to prolong the agony.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The military solution only cleared half the obstacle. The political solution, the one indicated in this paragraph is the other half awaiting urgent realization.
The sooner our government learns this and chooses the inevitable options, better it is for the nation and country.
October 28th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
ONLY Mario Perera has CORRECTLY identified the SL Tamil mentality.
“To try to wean the Tamils away from the TNA grip through any and every other means is doomed to dismal failure.”
“The crystal clear certainty is that no amount of modernization of the North (road building, construction work of all types, new infrastructures etc etc) will entice them away from the world which is their traditional construct.”
Others are only GIVING INTO the cancer and call it the cure!!!
When Brahi said the earth goes around the sun and not the other way around, they REFUSED it and killed him. But now we know.
Truth hurts and will NOT be popular UNTIL something disastrous happens.
e.g. TNA winning NPC
October 28th, 2012 at 2:46 pm
MARIO !! ” The only way to absolve them from their link to the system is legislation. That will be the bitter pill with its irremediable pull, towards reason and away from illusion.” Absolutely. This is the only antidote, for an ill conceived, notion of a tamil terminal illness, thef Tamil Problem.
I see Wimal Weerawnsa has written to 11 other Political Parties to join with his Party to anhillate the 13th. I greatly appreciate his resolve. Sri Lankans should rally round Gota and Wimal to see to this endless bickering by the asinine, Tamils. Physicians efforts to prolong this menace should be stopped. Surgery has to be performed to Kill the problem.
TNA will meet its waterloo in courts. Sri Lankans eagerly awaits this day.
October 28th, 2012 at 4:02 pm
Mario, I think it is important not to give up hope of winning the confidence of the Tamil community although there is no question that it will be a difficult task given the background of Tamil culture you have quite clearly outlined. Without hope, however silly it may sound, nothing can be achieved. It is also important to note that having hope of winning the confidence of the Tamil community does not and should not be construed as giving into the demands of the TNA.
October 28th, 2012 at 4:23 pm
As a person who have studied, worked and lived among Tamils, this analysis was the best I have ever read.
‘The Tamil mind evolves in a world of gods and goddesses, of rituals and rites that are a manifestation of this divine order. The family, society and whatever other order such as the political, stems from this all pervading divine ethos. The principal element of this divine structure is the caste system. Without caste, no Tamil family, no Tamil society, no Tamil temple, no religion. Ths is what the word ‘Tamil-ness’ implies in all its ramifications.
I would extend that to North Indians too, as I know them too.
October 28th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
“having hope of winning the confidence of the Tamil community does not and should not be construed as giving into the demands of the TNA.”
And we should not be giving into TAMIL CIVILIAN DEMANDS either. TNA is elected by Tamil civilians, not the Diaspora or India or USA.
ONLY those demands that serve everyone should be given. NOT Tamil, etc. demands.
There is a LIMIT of winning hearts and minds of Tamils because RESOURCES ARE LIMITED. There are Sinhalese, Muslims, Malays, Veddhas, etc. They too need resources. If we spend more than 10% of resources on Tamils (which is a fair share), what will the others have?
Ultimately we will have rich BUT UNSATISFIED Tamils who then will want to rule the poor Sinhalese and Muslims. This is what happened during British rule.
The right thing to do is to PUT Tamils where they RIGHTFULLY belong in SL society using the FORCE of law.
That will NOT win their hearts and minds because they always want MORE AND MORE. Expand, conquer others countries. Impose their culture. Have Tamil GHETTOS in Colombo, Jaffna, Batticaloa, Thalavakelei, Maskeliyar, Toronto, Scarborough, etc. Have houses in Colombo and Jaffna and not allow Sinhalese or Muslims in Jaffna.
If you REALLY want to win hearts of Tamils, give them MUCH MORE than what British gave them (1815 – 1931). Even then they will not be happy as Ponna-Ambalama demanded 50-50 DESPITE all that luxuries.
October 28th, 2012 at 5:07 pm
ALL displaced Tamils are now resettled. They were dispalced for only 3 years. ALL of them now have houses, land.
Are they happy? NO!
Now they demand more land, more valuable land, etc.
Look at the Sinhalese displaced since 1983 from Jaffna. 25,000 of them. Are they resettled? NO.
Look at the Muslims displaced since 1990 from Jaffna. 100,000 of them. Are they resettled? NO.
What will happen IF they are resettled?
Govt. will LOSE the few Tamil hearts and minds they already won!!!!
This is the reality.
But what is the right thing to do?
Resettle all of them. With population growth, Sinhalese and Muslims displaced from Jaffna are now 250,000.
Give them BEST schools in Jaffna. Best land. Best hospitals.
The the govt. will have DEDICATED 250,000 voters in Jaffna.
Nalavar, Koviyar caste Tamils ALWAYS vote for UNP/SLFP.
Tamil islanders in Kytes, etc. always vote for UNP/SLFP.
Some fishing caste Tamils also vote for UNP/SLFP.
This is the best way to DISPLACE TNA.
October 28th, 2012 at 5:07 pm
Racist Vellalar of Jaffna were the founders of the fascist culture in Jaffna. Despite the civilized veneer presented to the outside world, Jaffna Tamils ran a fascistic regime reducing the depressed Tamils to slaves. Jaffna Vellalar’s cruel caste system has no other parallel in any other part of Sri Lanka. Jaffna Vellalar virtually had a free run of the Jaffna peninsula because the colonial rulers turned a blind eye to the subhuman Jaffna Vellalar culture of violence. Thesavalamai legitimized slavery and the Jaffna Vellala slave-owners ruled the peninsula with an iron fist, with the Portuguese, Dutch and English colonial administrators often refusing to interfere in the laws and customs of the ruling caste and class.
Velupillai Prabhakaran perfected the fascistic culture of Tamil violence with his cult of violence that was not restrained by basic values of humanity. Torture, murder, incarceration, kangaroo courts, feeding Tamil dissidents to crocodiles in the Iranamadu tank, kidnapping teenage school children from the care of their parents and throwing them as sacrificial lambs to a war he could not win were all a part of his cult of violence which was glorified by the Tamil Diaspora. The Tamil Diaspora wallowed lustily in Velupillai Prabhakaran’s violence. The sadism of the Tamil Diaspora was demonstrated by the increase in the collection of funds abroad each time Velupillai Prabhakaran went on a killing spree. Their heroism was expressed in filling the war chests of Velupillai Prabhakaran led LTTE. Each time the Tamil Diaspora oiled the killing machine of Velupillai Prabhakaran led LTTE it was the Tamils left behind who had to pay with their lives. The Jaffna Tamil culture gave no choice to the Tamil speaking Sri Lankans: it was either fascism of Vellalar or fascism of Velupillai Prabhakaran.
In the north the Jaffna Tamil leadership failed the Jagffna people under both regimes. They never qualified to be just and fair leaders/rulers of the Jaffna people. The violence directed against their own people has condemned the Jaffna Tamil leadership as the most unbearable, unacceptable Pol Pots of our time. With all its infirmities there was democracy and liberal space in the south. In the north, fascism and violence became a common existential experience of daily life.
The evil in the Tamil culture, which was transmitted to Velupillai Prabhakaran, is represented precisely and accurately in the LTTE flag flown by the Tamil Diaspora as their symbol of pride and glory. It is the most obscene flag under the sun. There isn’t a single redeeming feature in it to project the Tamils as members of a civilized race. Its violent symbols – a snarling tiger putting his carnivorous head out of a ring of thirty-three bullets placed against two crossed guns fixed with bayonets – represent only a barbaric, blood-thirsty violence culture inherited from the Vellalar. Every inch of the LTTE flag questions the values of the Jaffna Tamils and their capacity to co-exist with other communities in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious world.
The misguided Tamils might read it as a sign of their power. But where have their tigers, bullets, guns and bayonets taken them? It is a flag that is comparable only to the skull and cross-bones of the marauding pirates. It is a flag that can only lead the Tamils to further deaths and destruction under another fascist leadership. And yet the Tamil Diaspora continues to hero worship Velupillai Prabhakaran, the designer of the hideous flag. Tamil Diaspora seems to be possessed by the fascist DNA of their Tamil forefathers who despised their own people and kicked them around as if they were pariah dogs. In a sense, it is fitting that Tamil Diaspora should fly this flag because it not only exhibits their vile past but guarantees that the future will be no different.
The confrontations, aggression and violence came only from the racist Jaffna Tamils, who exploited the issue to drag Jaffna deeper into mono-ethnic extremism. They succeeded in disguising their economic and class interests and promoting it as an act of discrimination against the Tamil-speaking Sri Lankans. The Tamil language issue was driven aggressively only by the racist Jaffna Tamils and not by the Tamil-speaking plantation workers, Tamil speaking Muslims or the non-Vellala Tamils of the eastern province.
The aggression and violence of the racist Jaffna Tamils proved the Karl Marx’s theory that the ruling class will not give up power without a struggle. And true to the barbaric character of the Jaffna Tamils they declared war on the rest of Sri Lanka by passing the Vadukoddai Resolution in 1976 – the period when Tamil supremacy was in its last legs.
Thesa (land) valamai (laws and customs) legitimized the land-owning Jaffna Vellalar as the slave-masters of Jaffna peninsula. From feudal and colonial times until May 18, 2009 when the Tamil cult of violence sank in Nandikkadal, Jaffna peninsula was under the jackboot of, first, Vellala fascism followed, second, by their equally brutal fascists – Velupillai Prabhakaran led LTTE. Both Vellalar and Velupillai Prabhakaran led LTTE oppressed and subjugated Tamils and denied their victims the fundamental right to live with even a modicum of dignity and self-respect. The LTTE took over from where the Vellalar left and perpetuated the cult of fascist violence which reduced the Jaffna Tamils to subhumans.With the possibility of Tamil Eelam gone, much of the Tamil Diaspora has lost all desire to return to Sri Lanka. Tamil Diaspora’s current breadwinners are the original immigrant population who grew up in Sri Lanka, who have shared memories and relationships with the remaining Tamil speaking Sri Lankans. Relationships are the ties that bind. Much of the upcoming Tamil Diaspora generation has had no direct contact with Tamil speaking Sri Lankans. A large portion of this generation does not speak Tamil and would be unable to have anything but the most basic of conversations with their Sri Lankan counterparts. For others, their connection to Sri Lanka is romantic and genetic – the way many Americans refer to their long-forgotten German or English ancestry.Tamil Diaspora risks losing itself within their host country identities. If Tamil Diaspora parents do not bring their children to visit, connection to Sri Lanka will be further diluted as upcoming generations settle deeper into their host nations.
October 28th, 2012 at 6:35 pm
Mario, what Shaneli writing about is reality and what you describe is shown in Nalliah comment. Remember some time ago you wanted the govenment to build a statue for the head of the cement factory who was shot by LTTE. What happed? fell in to deaf years as you state in this article. Read what Nalliah is writing! he wants theTamil Diaspora to come to SL and populate, so the majority in the North is Tamil.
October 28th, 2012 at 6:47 pm
Lorenzo – I just can’t believe you being a Tamil writing ‘The right thing to do is to PUT Tamils where they RIGHTFULLY belong in SL society using the FORCE of law.
Few Tamils have understood us we Sinha+hela people Lorenzo and thanks a lot for that! and NTs observations are highly appreciative. Most don’t see through our point of view – we have this small space on this planet for ourselves which every bastard want a piece saying we should part with that.
By the way, with all this crap thrown at us by the Sakkili outfit of Tigrers in Toronto and Sydney and the rest of the world and Sri Lanka and the ungulate Anglo Saxon, we have forwarded the ‘Grievances of Tamils’ to the President. It is up to him to address the issues mentioned therein.
October 28th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Mario Perera has provided some food for thought. Highlighting the propensity of the Tamils to look upto one leader and party, a phenomenon he describes as the ‘Duce Fuhrer’ is a bulls eye. I have also recognized this as a curse that has befallen the Tamils. The Tamil propensity to view the UNP-the right, more favourably over the SLFP-the left, is also an extension of this phenomen. The Tamils tend to view their communal politics and national politics with blinkered eyes. They tend to place all their eggs (hopes) in one basket and have ended up as bad losers. Anyone who breaks of this mode of thinking is labelled a ‘Traitor’ and nver called a ‘Rebel’. This phenomenon of what I would call the ‘Deification’ of political favourites and film actors, is expressed in an extreme form in Tamil Nadu. However, the explanation for this is probably not what the author and some commentators allude.
It probably is related to the concept in Hinduism as practiced by the Tamils that the ‘Ruler/King’derives his authority from the divine/God. Tamil society has been traditionally hierarchical. The caste system, which is now quite effete, was considered a divine design at one time. The Brahmins were at the apex of this hierarchy at one time and the ‘Kshatriyas’- rulers were next to them in the Indian context. Among the Tamils in Sri Lanka the Vellalahs- the farmers ( although many did not engage in farming), came next to the rulers in the hierarchy.
Despite the near death of the caste system after decades of turmoil and destruction, the mindset however survives and is exploited by formations such as the TNA. Tamils are also not an adventurous people. They are conservative, because they fear the unknown. They as a people are comfortable with the known, which contributes to their being called ‘Traditional’. The fear of the unknown, prevents the Tamils becoming radical and adventurous.
The Tamil militancy that gave rise to the LTTE phenomenon, was something that could not have happened within the Tamil community in Sri Lanka, under normal circumstances. It was not in the nature of Tamils to react in this way. Extreme circumstances /provocations and perceptions encouraged by Tamil politicians, gave rise to the rise of Tamil militancy. Some and not all Tamils recated because they felt they had been pushed to the wall! The circumstances for such a phenomenon to recur should not be created once again in Sri Lanka. Wisdom has to come to the fore in our affairs.
Further, the Tamils also have a high degree of the sense of identity as Tamils and being part owners of Sri Lanka. While the Sinhalese have the same degree of their sense of identity as Sinhalese, they beleive the whole island belongs to them and the Tamils are an imposition they are ready to tolerate/concede. These concienciousness are the elements that have fertilized the so-called Sinhala-Tamil conflict. All politicians- Sinhala and Tamil- feed on these deep felt conciousnesses, like maggots on open wounds.
National acceptance of the north and parts of the east as the traditional areas of habitation of Tamils will go a long way in assuaging a major part of Tamil fears. This should not however be interpreted by Tamils as conferring them exclusive rights to these areas. Sri lanka belongs to everyone and any citizen has a right to live anywhere in Sri Lanka, with his citizenship rights intact.
Further, several aspects in the 13th amendment have to be considered by those calling for its abolition.
1. The official language status granted to Tamil. Should this be changed?
2. The consitutional recognition of the north and east as the traditional homelands of the Tamils and other Tamil-speaking people.. Should this be changed?
3. The Provincial Councils as a mechanism of devolution of power to the perophery within a unitary state. Should this be changed?
In my opinion the first two aspects should stand, but accepted and implemented with greater vigour. The PC system has to be discarded, if cannot be improved and made meaningful. It is a legal charade now. If discarded it should be replaced by an alternate mechanism to permit the Tamils to particpate effectively in decision making at the centre and have a say in matters concerning their community and areas of high concentration occupation.
The Sri Lankan state had forced the Tamils through various acts to feel less Sri Lankan and withdraw into a shel., through various acts of ommision and commision. They are a community who have developed a seige mentality over several decades. What should have happened has happened. This situation is real and cannot be denied or ignored. It is also a situation that has serious implication for the country as a whole. This situation has to be recognized and dealt with wisely and pragmatically, without venturing to aggravate it further.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
October 28th, 2012 at 9:45 pm
Sunil,
“Most don’t see through our point of view – we have this small space on this planet for ourselves which every bastard want a piece saying we should part with that.”
I disagree on “OUR” point of view.
It is NOT a point of view or opinion BUT A FACT in democratic countries = MAJORITARIAN RULE.
You too have travelled and probably lived in DEVELOPED DEMOCRACIES. They follow MAJORITARIAN RULE and so should SL. It is not at all bad for minorities because they recognise ONLY cultural minorities NOT ethno-political minorities.
The majority must never feel guilty to claim and get what it wants or needs and the entire nation must STOP to give it to them.
That leads to another issue – Sinhala Buddhists MUST retain their majority status.
GET RID of illegal immigrants. Control population growth of Muslims, Hindus and Christians. Control the share of the economy in their hands. Control the political power in their hands.
Just imagine SL as a Hindu country.
1. By now MOST Buddhist and Muslim places of worship would have been burnt by Shiv Sena.
2. The nation would be woprshiping rats and cows with rampant diseases, ignorance, poverty.
3. People would be killing each other based on caste. Harijan could not improve. Brahmin vermin ruining the country.
4. Daily AQ, JI, LET, etc. terror attacks. Kings killing relatives, etc.
5. China will bomb us into dust or get Mao rebels to do the honours.
LOOK at Hindu 95% Jaffna district!!!
Just imagine SL as an Islamic country.
1. Total barbaric Saudi, Pakistan, Gaza, Libya
2. Indian, US, Russian, Chinese, etc. sponsored terrorism will kill all.
Just imagine SL as a Christian country.
1. East Timor – the poorest Asian country.
2. Daily AQ, JI, LET, etc. terror attacks. Pedophiles roaming.
So there is no choice.
As a unique Buddhist country (not like Burma) SL has allowed ALL other faiths without ANY restriction.
SL has ALL Christian denominations, both Islamic types, Judaism, Hinduism, Aethism, etc.
This is what needs to be protected.
October 28th, 2012 at 9:55 pm
“National acceptance of the north and parts of the east as the traditional areas of habitation of Tamils will go a long way in assuaging a major part of Tamil fears.”
This type of attitudes result in riots, wars, violence. When will you learn?
IF TRUE, let Tamils live in that fear you say they have. Eventually they will leave!! Leaving SL to SLs.
Only the guilty live in fear. :))
1. The official language status granted to Tamil. Should this be changed?
Of course it should be changed!
2. The consitutional recognition of the north and east as the traditional homelands of the Tamils and other Tamil-speaking people.. Should this be changed?
Of course it should be changed!
3. The Provincial Councils as a mechanism of devolution of power to the perophery within a unitary state. Should this be changed?
Of course it should be changed!
But give EACH person including EACH Tamil EQUAL RIGHTS. Problem solved.
October 29th, 2012 at 1:25 am
Lorenzo,
You make a lot of comments akin to the whistling from the gallery in the cinemas of old in Sri Lanka.
Your comment that democracy means majoritarianism reeks of ignorence. Majoritarianism is a dictatorship. It is a dictatorship of a group of people- a community with a common language, culture and religion- over the other groups of people who are smaller in number and identifiably different. Democracy is the expression of the will of a people as citizens, across all other distinctions. Because the Sinhalese are in a majority in Sri Lanka, the expression of their collective wills, will be democracy for them. However, it will become a dictatorship, if it is different from that of the other communities in Sri Lanka and is forced on them.
“But give EACH person including EACH Tamil EQUAL RIGHTS. Problem solved.”
What are the implications of this high sounding sentiment expressed by you?
Would this give every single Tamil, rights to his /her language-Tamil? Would this give the right to every Tamils the rights to his/her security of person and property? Would this give the right to every Tamil the right to be a Tamil by culture, educate his children in Tamil and pass on his heritage to his /her children?
Collectively would this mean that the Tamils will have the right as a community to be what they want to be within the laws governing Sri Lanka? How can you by implication deny the Tamils their collectice community rights, when you are so ready to concede their individual rights? I hope you see the inherent contradiction and fallacy in what you say.
Are you conceding only the right of individual Tamils to be born, breath, eat, drink , defecate, reproduce and die in Sri Lanka? Is this the right you will concede every individual in the Sinhala-Buddhist majority community too? I hope you are not conceding any other special rights to the Sinhala-Buddhist community under the guise of the majoritarianism you equate with democracy.
The Shiv Sena is a middle Indian (Maharashtiyan) phenomenon. The Tamils in India have been very tolerant of other religions. You are not Tamil enough to understand that Tamil Saivites( The majority among Tamils in Sri Lanka) believe in the dictum ”Emm Mathamum Samathum’ (All religions are acceptable). There are a large number of Hindu homes in Tamil Nadu that yet have a Lord Buddha statue in a special place in their living rooms! We have one in our prayer room too.
Did you know many Hindu temples in the South of Sri Lanka were burnt by Sinhala-Buddhist hooligans during the various communal riots? Did you know the Ganesha/Pillyar statue in the Koneswaran temple was thrown into the sea with the words, “Gana Deviyo naanda giya” (Lord Ganesh has gone for a bath)? Do you know how many Christian churches have been burnt or damaged in recent years? Do you know many Muslim mosques and Madrasas are being attacked even now in Sri Lanka? I do not attribute these sins/crimes to the Sinhala-Buddhists as a people. They are the most decent I have seen in my travels around the world. It is lumpen elements within every community that create such ugly incidents and situations. The problem lies with the system that permits such things to happen and go unpunished.
I can go on challenging your shallow assertions ad-infinatum. However, I desist, becuse I feel you are yet young enough to learn not to exhibit your ignorence and prejudices in a public forum.
I know you have a fan club among the readers from the number of positive votes you get on even the most ignorent comments you make. Yhis should not go your head and make you think you are right.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
October 29th, 2012 at 2:13 am
“I would extend that to North Indians as I know them too” – Sunil Vijayapala
Agreed 100 percent. I too grew up among North Indians and SL Tamils children. The cosmic ideology is nearly identical. That is one reason they can relate to each other seamlessly. Sinhalese must stop fooling themselves that there is a difference and make policies that acknowledge this reality. Lankan vision is unique is South Asia.
October 29th, 2012 at 3:21 am
Narendran,
Your INABILITY to defend an argument is displayed by typical personal attacks.
I may be a quarter of a century younger than you but let me show you how to defend an argument in a civilized way without personal attacks which is a cultural difference between GHETTO mentality and civilized people.
1. ““But give EACH person including EACH Tamil EQUAL RIGHTS. Problem solved.”
Would this give every single Tamil, rights to his /her language-Tamil?”
No and there is no need for that. There is NO fundamental or human right that everyone’s language should be national or official language. Do you know that in USA, Hong Kong, UK, France, etc. Tamil is NOT a national or official language but Tamils still enjoy equal rights?
2. “How can you by implication deny the Tamils their collectice community rights, when you are so ready to concede their individual rights?”
There is NO concept called community rights. This is called tribal thinking. It is INDIVIDUAL rights that is recognized. You are free to practice ANY culture within the community as you do in London.
3. “You are not Tamil enough to understand that Tamil Saivites( The majority among Tamils in Sri Lanka) believe in the dictum ”Emm Mathamum Samathum’ (All religions are acceptable).”
This is the stupidest comment I have ever come across. My Tamilness is with me. Please say, “Lorenzo, you are not RACIST enough to understand Tamil this and that.” In your judgement all Tamils MUST be racists to be Tamils! Do you know why I’m not a racist Tamil? Because I don’t want to end up in Nanthikadal lagoon with shrapnel wounds in my back!
4. Do you know how many Buddhist temples, mosques, churches were attacked by BARBARIC Tamil terrorists?
1985 – Anuradhapura (UNFORGIVABLE)
1990 – Katankudy
1998 – Kandy (UNFORGIVABLE)
2007 – Mannar church
5. Tamil Homeland theorists are stateless, craving for others’ nations as a hook worm craves for the blood of its host only to be defecated with hard medicine.
October 29th, 2012 at 4:21 am
For All my Chinhala Brother FYI, Dr.Rajasingham Narendran tried all his time (live) & knowleged for last our 33 years Golden Tamil history aginst our Thesiya Thalaivar & under mined our liberation fight !!!
he was in our top of kid list ! luck bu….d !
October 29th, 2012 at 6:56 am
Raja Ayya,
1. The official language status granted to Tamil. Should this be changed? – Nooooooo. Why to such things ?
2. The consitutional recognition of the north and east as the traditional homelands of the Tamils and other Tamil-speaking people.. Should this be changed?
Ofcourse. This concept does not exclude South as a Tamil homeland say South is a Sinhala homeland. Australia is not the
traditional homeland of white people, yet they govern it with aborigines having 40 years life expectancy.
They is no need divide the country and say this part is mine and that part it yours, which is stupid. Whole thing is yours if you think that way. If you are a leading Tamil businessman in Sri lanka, whole land is yours.
3. The Provincial Councils as a mechanism of devolution of power to the perophery within a unitary state. Should this be changed?
Ofcourse. This is rubbish which created Dumindas and Mervys and should be burnt.
October 29th, 2012 at 6:59 am
Raja Ayya,
All the 3 demands already granted will not make you a happy,prosperous, healthy Tamil.
Getting rid of sepratism altogether from your mind will make you Mage Ayya – a Sinhala Ayya. It will make you a real Tamil human being, who can live with others with pride.
October 29th, 2012 at 8:18 pm
Lorenzo,
Please accept my apologies if you feel personally insulted by my comments. I carefully chose by words and agonized over them, to avoid sounding personally insulting. However, the message is that you have to study issues in depth before making comments. History cannot be reversed. We have to take off from where we are now and learn lessons from the past.
Sri lanka is not a country of recent immigrants. It is not a melting pot. It is a rainbow, with varied spectra of light. The different spectra have to be permitted and given the space to shine, for Lanka to be what it was, what it is and what it should be. The ‘Gheto’ mentality was imposed on the Tamils. They forced back into ‘Ghetos’, at a point in history when they were succesfully becoming well integrated into the new Sri lankan nation. This memory has to be erased by building ‘Trust’. To use a crude analogy the Tamils are like dogs that have been stoned regularly. They have been conditioned now to expect a stone everytime someone raises a hand even to beckon them!
Further, many play on the caste factor among Tamils in a myopic manner. Caste is losing its meaning fast. Please read the matrimonial columns in the Sinhala and English papers. The Sinhalese yet identify themselves by caste, although this factor has ceased to be a critical factor. One senior ex-minister had expressed the opinion that both the Sinhalese and Tamils were being led at that time by low-caste men. Of the Sinhala leader referred to was President Premadasa and the Tamil leader referred to was tyhe LTTE supremo Prabaharan. Caste yet has a place in our national consciousness.
Dham,
I identify myself as a Tamil Sri Lankan. However, by language speaking ability and outlook am in reality a Tamil-English and Sinhala Sri Lankan. I do not look at people in this country in terms of their language or religious identity. I have grown up with all, can speak with them in their language, have played with them, been taught by them, have taught them and yet live among all them them. Despite these advantages and universal outlook I have been a victiim of both Sinhala and Tamil terror! Despite this background. being a Tamil I can understand the Tamil predicament better and be both supportive and critical as required. I have been doing this consistently as Andy Lingam has alluded. I am a traitor to many Tamils because of efforts at objectivity. I have also reasons to be critical of the Sinhala polity and GOSLs, while appreciating the positives. I have forgiven the negative outcomes of the past-both as a human and a Tamil- and look forward to a different and better future. I am trying my best to build bridges. However, I have not forgotten history-the good, bad and the ugly.
Dham,
I am a Tamil-Sinhala- English Siya – probably the quintessential Sri Lankan Siya. Yet I am a Tamil and am symapathetic to the Tamil cause, where it is valid. I am against separatism and have been consistently against the Tiger and TULF/TNA ideology. I want a united Sri Lanka to come into being . This united Sri Lanka has to be a rainbow nation, as South africa has become. It cannot be a Sinhala-Buddhist, Tamil-Hindu or a Muslim-Tamil Sri Lanka. It has to be a Sri Lanka, where all these categories come together to function as a whole, respecting each other as individuals and identity groups. Numbers should not matter on a national scale. The Sinhala vote will be the determinant in deciding who governs and how we are governed. However, this should not make the minority interests subordinate to that of the majority. We are all human and have coomon physiological, health and livelihood needs. We are also different in many ways and have requirements that are cultural, religious, territorial and communal. Even animals have territorial imperatives. These territorial imperatives become central points of conflict when threatened. This threat factor has to be minimized through good and just governance. The Sinhala people feel that Sri Lanka is their only abode and feel threatened by India and the presence of a huge Tamil population in Tamil Nadu. They feel threatened by some elements in the international community and the Tamil Diaspora now. This is also a territorial imperative. The Tamils feel the same territorial imperatives within Sri Lanka. This has to be appreciated and accomodated to the greatest extent possible, without paving the way to separatism. The balance has to found, without throwing the baby with the dirty bath water.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
October 29th, 2012 at 9:11 pm
Narendran,
I don’t feel personally insulted by your comments so no need to apologise. But they distract attention from a worthy discussion.
PLEASE don’t claim Tamil homelands in SL. That is the ONLY thing that hurts me and MOST SLs.
If this Tamil homeland claim was not there, I see no reason why there should be any major disagreement in SL. Let Tamil Nadu have the honour of remaining the Tamil homeland.
October 29th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
I think Lorenzo summed up the issue very clearly. The Tamil homeland is Tamil Nadu(territorial imerative) and that’s it. Sinhala homeland is Sri Lanka(territorial imperative) and that’s it. You need to accept and reject few things. There was an aggressor and a defender of territory. Shall we say ‘ Case Closed’.
I can’t beleive in a civilised society low bred statements such as this ‘One senior ex-minister had expressed the opinion that both the Sinhalese and Tamils were being led at that time by low-caste men’ Thathagata rightly observed ‘A brahmin is by deed not by birth’
October 30th, 2012 at 3:53 am
Drs. Narendhran and Thayabharan have remained somewhat outside of the brainwashed and indoctrinated Tamil brethren of Sri Lanka who both within and without Sri Lanka have looked at the national issue through a different lens. However, they are 2 rare individuals. The vast mejority of Lankan Tamils are immersed in a belief system of ‘homelands’ and ‘mythology’ with a clinging to claims of territorial heritage that are simply not true. Dr. Indrapala, Prof. of History, who is a Tamil, wrote in his Ph.D dissertation (Univ. of London) that “with the exception of the megalithic remains of Pomparippu and the possible exception of those of Katiraveli, there is no definite evidence regarding any Dravidian settlement in the island.” (page 51). These facts have been replaced by the myths and concoctions that have usurped the Tamil psyche into a near insane pursuit of a vast swathe of the island’s territory. These false claims continue to put the security of the island at great risk, especially on account of the opportunity for infringement of Tamil Nadu and New Delhi politics. It is time for the nation to come together and protect itself by endorsing its unitary status and removal of the 13th Amendment that is an impediment to its national security.
The post-conflict period in which the Global Tamil Forum and other ‘Eelam-supporting elements’ in the global community have continued to inflict its pressures to PREVENT Reconciliation, has demonstrated with no uncertainty the manner in which 13A will continue to be used to prevent Sri Lanka from proceeding on an endemically formulated development plan. Instead, Sri Lanka will forever be tied to Indian and Tamil Nadu politics. Sri Lanka yearns to be FREE…free of colonialism whether it be the West, or India.
To achieve this, the Tamils of Sri Lanka would be wise to align themselves with the Sinhalese and the other communities of the island who love this land and desire the costly peace that was won with so much loss of life and treasure, to continue through this difficult period of transition from war to continued peace.
There is a fundamental INJUSTICE in what the Lankan Tamils expect from the Sinhalas. Tamils were too accustomed to the biases in their favor practiced by the Western colonial rulers who played the “divide and rule” method of control, that they cannot adjust to the reality of the Sinhalas as the natural majority who deserve to be in charge of their land which they have fought to preserve over the centuries.
Shenali has made a sincere call, and I think we should endorse it for the sake of the future of all communities of Sri Lanka. History has clearly shown that no power can hold this land against the will of its majority Sinhala community. The Tamil community must accept the reality of the existence of the Sinhala majority, and make a few moves on their side as well, and NOT expect all concessions to be from the Sinhala majority. We have thus far not seen the Tamil leaders make any attempt to move towards a settlement. Are there no leaders on their side who think outside the box?
October 30th, 2012 at 4:04 am
Drs. Narendhran and Thayabharan have remained somewhat outside of the brainwashed and indoctrinated Tamil brethren of Sri Lanka who both within and without Sri Lanka have looked at the national issue through a different lens. However, they are 2 rare individuals. The vast majority of Lankan Tamils are immersed in a belief system of ‘homelands’ and ‘mythology’ with a clinging to claims of territorial heritage that are simply not true. Dr. Indrapala, Prof. of History, who is a Tamil, wrote in his Ph.D. dissertation (Univ. of London) that “with the exception of the megalithic remains of Pomparippu and the possible exception of those of Katiraveli, there is no definite evidence regarding any Dravidian settlement in the island.” (page 51). These facts have been replaced by the myths and concoctions that have usurped the Tamil psyche into a near insane pursuit of a vast swathe of the island’s territory. These false claims continue to put the security of the island at great risk, especially on account of the opportunity for infringement of Tamil Nadu and New Delhi politics. It is time for the nation to come together and protect itself by endorsing its unitary status and removal of the 13th Amendment that is an impediment to its national security.
The post-conflict period in which the Global Tamil Forum and other ‘Eelam-supporting elements’ in the global community have continued to inflict its pressures to PREVENT Reconciliation, has demonstrated with no uncertainty the manner in which 13A will continue to be used to prevent Sri Lanka from proceeding on an endemically formulated development plan. Instead, Sri Lanka will forever be tied to Indian and Tamil Nadu politics. Sri Lanka yearns to be FREE…free of colonialism whether it be the West, or India.
To achieve this, the Tamils of Sri Lanka would be wise to align themselves with the Sinhalese and the other communities of the island who love this land and desire the costly peace that was won with so much loss of life and treasure, to continue through this difficult period of transition from war to continued peace.
There is a fundamental INJUSTICE in what the Lankan Tamils expect from the Sinhalas. Tamils were too accustomed to the biases in their favor practiced by the Western colonial rulers who played the “divide and rule” method of control, that they cannot adjust to the reality of the Sinhalas as the natural majority who deserve to be in charge of their land which they have fought to preserve over the centuries.
Shenali has made a sincere call, and I think we should endorse it for the sake of the future of all communities of Sri Lanka. History has clearly shown that no power can hold this land against the will of its majority Sinhala community. The Tamil community must accept the reality of the existence of the Sinhala majority, and make a few moves on their side as well, and NOT expect all concessions to be from the Sinhala majority. We have thus far not seen the Tamil leaders make any attempt to move towards a settlement. Are there no leaders on their side who think outside the box?
October 30th, 2012 at 4:06 am
Sunil Wijepala,
One of my subejects for the Ord-levels was Buddhism. I have also had/have Buddhist neighbours and friends, who have positively influenced me. I hence know to some extent what Buddhism stands for. I have met criminal monks and saintly monks. I was impressed told me as a ten year old that it is the robe (yje sivura) that is revered and not the person enrobed per-se. There is difference between Buddhism and those labelling themselves Buddhists. The sentiment I had mentioned earlier was by a minister in JR’s and probably Premadasa’s too, who was a Diyawardene Nilame in Kandy. I am sure you can guess his identity now.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
October 30th, 2012 at 6:33 am
The reasons of why 13th Amendment is alive (from the comments above)
Control population growth of Muslims, Hindus and Christians. Control the share of the economy in their hands. Control the political power in their hands.
The right thing to do is to PUT Tamils where they RIGHTFULLY belong in SL society using the FORCE of law.
By the way MAJORITARIAN do not Rule, they elect a bunch of people and these people have rarely carry of the wishes of those elected them.
October 31st, 2012 at 7:39 am
The partisan comments by the pro Tamil Camp and its Sinhalese counterpart with an non partisan echo from the Muslim camp are all very interesting, but the fact of the matter is there were no such hatreds and disgruntlements to a degree which resulted in an internal armed uprising by Tamils and responded to by the Sinhalese which virtually tore the Nation apart during British Rule. The colonial Brits may have been a self centered lot, and may have stripped Sri Lanka of many resources and artifacts they shipped nack to the old country but they certainly new how to administer a nation such as Ceylon justly in an organized and sane manner.Their rule of law was rare;y compromised or crossed becaise their authority was hardly questioned and stoic in composition as well as just. There was order, organization and contentment within the land at the time but the moment it was confronted by the founding fathers of todays Sri Lanka demanding independence and the British left, all hell broke loose albeit unwinding gradually.The British knew how to maintain a stable equilibrium between the Sinhalese and Tamils and embellished the land with their finesse and capacity for creativity but unfortunately leaned towards the minority Tamils in a devious manner which angered the Sinhalese to the point of confrontation after the British left. There was notably a key element in those days between the Sinhalese and Tamils which dissapeared after British Rule which was their capacity to live in peace and harmony side by side to a greater degree although at times there were minor disagreements which eventially rose to open conflict thanks mainly to the fomentations of hatred by political leaders which personified man’s inhumanity to man and the rest is history. Had the Sinhalese and Tamils been left alone to co-exist without ambitious political dogma perhaps the troubles of the past may never have transpired as both Buddhism and Hinduism promote greater tolerance which the politicos certainly did not. There is much to be said now about the merits of integration between the races and all citizens of Sri Lanka needing to be given the same entitlements, privileges and recognition irrespective of ethnic, religious or cultural origins if there is going to be a lasting peace whcih though it may seem to be a pipe dream is something which could be realised through equality for all but as long as there are corrupt, self centered, idealogical despots from both sides of the divide as well as from far of shores each preaching their own load of tripe about what’s best for Sri Lanka the populace will only be further confused about their existences add to which the pathetic socio economic problems Sri Lanka faces today, the quest for a panacea to the nation’s woes will continue! It is a huge dilemma which none of todays politicians seem to have a clue about despite all the superficial visions of past glory returning to Resplendent Sri Lanka by virtue of new development and the influx of tourists etc. as soon all of these will probably dissipate if there is no continuity to the trend as the Nation is more than likely to be stripped of its resources this time not by the Brits but by local predation stemming mainly from the political factions in authority! The Sinhalese and Tamils et al just might end up united to fight a common war against these types and perhaps then and only then will there be a united Sri Lanka but sadly the biggest dream of all!
October 31st, 2012 at 9:35 am
Bravo!- Sunil