Asada M Erpini

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ A priest who originated from Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s North, but now based in England, is best known for his anti-Sri Lanka, pro-Eelam stand and his leading role in the Global Tamil Forum. At the recent UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that reviewed Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s human rights status he even had the temerity to meet Sri Lanka PresidentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Special envoy on Human Rights and, with a grin, to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ pose for photographs with the Sri Lankan Minister. To match his anti-Sri Lanka antics, Sri Lanka (or should it be Eelam) has its own Bishop of Mannar, who at an NGO meeting held at the premises of UN Commission for Human Rights in Geneva during the same period, has enunciated his stance vis-ƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚ -vis Sri Lanka and Eelam: the man is reported to have said, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-there have been two Nations (implying Tamilian and probably Sri Lankan) that hasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to be recognizedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, (the section within parentheses being the writerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s). When questioned by a media person, the Mannar Bishop is reported to have responded, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-they are grabbing land in Trinco, Jaffna, Pallali and Mulativ and the armyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s role is without a parallelƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, as stated in a translation reported on 04 November 2012 from a local daily.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There is at least one element in the Mannar BishopƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s utterances that should be applauded. The Sri Lankan armed forces (interpreting the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-the theyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in his statement as referring to the armed forces of the Sri Lankan government) have done something that no other in the whole world managed to achieve: with little or almost no help from other countries, Sri Lanka got rid of the Sri Lanka-based armed wing of the LTTE ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the most ruthless terrorist group in the world, according to international observers, a number of affluent countries in the West and many students of politics. What Sri Lanka achieved is beyond compare: the mighty US, in spite of its military strength and espionage capabilities, is bogged down in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and many other countries. Sri Lanka, almost single-handedly, vanquished the LTTE fighters, gave deliverance to nearly 300,000 Tamil civilians and, within a mere three-year period got almost every Tamil civilian back to his home setting. Bishop of Mannar, we certainly agree with this part of your statement.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The allegation of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-they are grabbing landƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ deserves a response in choice Sri Lankan parlour that is often referred to as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Mariyakade languageƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. The writer is not ready to descent to that level, although that is what is apt.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The whole of Sri Lanka is, constitutionally, land that belongs to the State ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” of Sri Lanka, and not to any mythical or aspired-to Eelam -. The armed forces of the country ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” army, air force and the navy as well as the police and others involved in the security of the nation ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” have every right to take over any part of the territory as they deem fit, under the guidance of the Minister of Defence. An issue of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-they are grabbing landƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ does not arise at all. Large areas of the island in Panagoda, Pallekele, Anuradhapura, etc, have been taken over by the armed forces to have their offices and training grounds, and to provide accommodation to the men and women in uniform. No Sinhalas have ever complained about these acquisitions, and, in fact, the armed personnel are viewed as units that strengthen the security of the localities.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is essential that citizens of Sri Lanka are barred from denigrating the country and that they be dealt with according to the laws of the lands ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” if necessary, with new legal mechanisms introduced ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” if they promote separatism. They should be charged for treason and sedition and hauled before the courts and duly punished if found guilty.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Though rumblings continue in Tamil Nadu even at present, the declaration in 1963 by the Government of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru that secessionism was an illegal act subdued the calls for separatism by the Dravidians of India. Tamil Nadu politicians led by the Karunadnidhis, Jayalalithas and Vaikos are therefore forced to collaborate with their acolytes in Sri Lanka, and those who left Sri Lanka alleging discrimination, in their pursuit of the creation of Eelam in Sri Lanka. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka should take immediate steps to emulate Jawaharlal NehruƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s action of 1963. Sri Lanka, unfortunately, is allowing the traitors to propagate their anti-Sri Lanka venom all over the world and garner support for their macabre pursuit.