India’s Calling For Talks With The TNA Over The 13th Amendment Is High Handed And Without Entitlement!
Posted on June 11th, 2013
LankaWeb Weekly Editorial,
June 13th 2013
The current turn of eventsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ relative to the 13rh Amendment to the Sri Lanka Constitution which haveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ been reported in the global media that ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India has called for an ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ urgent meeting with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ over the issue of the 13th Amendment revision appears to be a blatant attempt on the part of India ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to interfere in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs.
What is more disconcerting is that despite political recognition of the TNAƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in Sri Lanka by virtue of their having gained a few parliamentary seats it still remains categorically a disentitlement of the TNA to consort with India over this all important National Issue. This said on the basis that the TNA in the first place should never have been tolerated as a political entity or given any leeway to enter parliamentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ on the singlemost basis that they were openly supportive of the now deposed terrorist entity the Tamil Tigers and in many of their activities even at the presentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it is quite visible that they are none but another LTTEƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ supportive groupƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that needs to beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ driven to ground inasmuch as the LTTE for carrying within their manifesto as well as harbouring their objectives at times in collusion with the State of Tamil Tiger friendly Tamil Nadu of India.
They not only liase covertly withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ all the adversaries ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka in TamilƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Nadu and the bucket carrying sycophants there made up ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ visionless, ageing and seemingly confused politicians and part time actors turned leaders who have no comprehension about what goes on in Sri Lanka today who attempt to discredit the Government of SriƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Lanka in the name of false sympathy with theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamil people of SriƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ but also provide roadblocks towards progress in post insurgent Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as well as instigating the intimidation of Sri Lankan citizensƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who enter theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ State ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamil Nadu which even includes Buddhist clergy, sports groups and be aofficial representatives of the GOSL at every opportunity.
Perhaps an eye opener for the Administration to take action towards remedying the ill effects of tolerating the TNA and confronting them towards disentitlement of political involvement unless they come clean, shed their attempts to recussitate the Tamil Tigers as many believe and swear allegiance to maintain their conduct relative to the Constitution and the legislative precepts set by the Government of Sri Lanka involving the code of political conduct that serves the Nation of Sri Lanka and her best interests rather than disrupting it towards their own objectives which takes no rocket science to interpret.
In the simplest of terms there seems to be no other recourse towards their existence which will in the long term be detrimental towards the well being of Sri Lanka according to many analysts! This also incorporates the well being of all freedom loving Tamils in Sri Lanka who are quite content with how the Adminstration addresses their needs and far removed from how their so called liberators the Tamil Tigers once imperiled their very existences. Case in point towards blackmarking the TNA who have never once denounced or denied their links to them and their objectives!
In this respect a very nation friendly as well as patriotic political group the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has been quoted as saying that
“India was exerting pressure on the Sri Lankan Government on a controversial constitutional amendment.”
This relates to whatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Sri Lankan Government isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ presently
considering towards changing the 13th Amendment, a part of Sri Lanka’s Constitution which was created following an agreement reached between India and Sri Lanka in 1987 where the privilege to amend or change is solely the prerogative and rightƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of the GOSL needing no interference from any extraneous source particularly when it involves the demands of non nation friendlyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ former terrorist supportive elements whose direction could be interpreted asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a blatant attempt to annex power towards their own ends.
While India wants the 13th Amendment to remain as it is as it devolves powers to the provinces, several Sinhalese political parties apart from a few exceptions in Sri Lanka want it scrapped or changed as they envision the dangers it could pose to the country based purely on theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ demands of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ TNA, their body language and rhetoric which to the more discerning is none but a camouflaged version of what the Tamil Tigers were demanding in their attempt to annex part of the North and East of Sri Lanka during the decades long insurgency.
The JHU, which is campaigning againstƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the clause which allocates land and police powers to the provinces under the 13th Amendment demanding itƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to be removed by voicing their contentions have said that “India is attempting to entice Sri Lankan Tamil political parties to back the 13th Amendment “ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ whereƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ absolutely no entitlement of the Indians who should know better than to get involved in an issue that is strictly a matter for the Sri Lankan Government to resolve.
A JHU statement has said that “India’s actions will draw the ire of the Sri Lankan public. We urge India to stay away from our internal issues. If they have concerns then they should directly discuss it with the Sri Lankan Government,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India has no right to push for the 13th Amendment to remain as India had failed to disarm the Tamil Tiger rebels, which was part of the Indo-Lanka agreement.” which seemed a very appropriate response which India should realistically heed.
India’s attempt to coerce the TNA which appears to be the reason for India calling an urgent meeting with them seems high handed and without entitlement.
June 11th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
Maybe India needs reminding that she is not immune to such tactics. The Buddhist Sanga could have talks with the Maoists who are fighting India’s corruption, her caste system and the apathy that has let to the ever growing slums and the broken hopes of countless millions. In addition Sri Lanka being the oldest Buddhist nation outside of India has an obligation to enact laws according to the teachings of the Buddha who rejected the caste system. Any new or existing Hindu Temples such as the proposed Sita Temple by India must obey the rules of Buddhist Sri Lanka which must include all levels of Hindus and no ban on the lower casts as it is common practice among Tamil Hindus. If enacted the Tamil Hindus will not have a leg to stand on in defense of the Caste system since it has been designated as one of the most violent and oldest forms of human rights violations. Laws should be passed that allow lower caste Hindus to perform the rituals needed within the Sanctum Sanctorum of any Hindu Temple and not the sole prerogative of the Tamil Hindu Brahmins. If they want to continue to practice this Caste system then the Temples that violate the law should be closed till Dalits have the right to priesthood in Sri Lanka.
June 11th, 2013 at 2:18 pm
Endia is again playing the dirty game.
Why not Endia keeps TNA and all Tamils in Endia and give them a political solution of choice.
June 11th, 2013 at 6:18 pm
if 6a is implemented to the letter, these clowns will have no chance to ‘express’ their opinions and run over to india to get support. tna mps need not be tolerated anymore on our soil. if they want they can apply for refugee status and go to south india and cry foul there to have tamil nadu a separate tamil run state within a state. the indian constitution doesn’t allow that to happen. our ponna leadership (esp. external affairs) doesn’t know what 6a entails and fear they will lose votes. vote is the root cause of this inaction to jail these bastards who run amok calling for separation. 13a need not be changed but should be scrapped altogether. this is where we need deterrence in the form of military presence of china and russia. india will shiver and will never pressure sri lanka. well for that to happen we need wise leadership.
June 11th, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Nothing new. This is what India is dong ALL THE TIME…sticking its nose up its neighbour’s A-hole.
Mario Perera
Kadawata
June 12th, 2013 at 3:26 am
In global peace index SL ranks 110.
Endia ranks 141.
SL is MORE peaceful than Endia. It will be even better if dirty Endia KEEPS OUT of SL.
June 12th, 2013 at 8:14 am
TNA is not a registered political party. They hope to enter the NP PC elections through ITAK. TNA is misleading the Tamil people to more future strife and disharmony with the rest of Lanka.
TNA should dissolve itself or Parliament should bring in action against errant TNA MPs who are contravening their Oath to the People of Lanka to uphold the Constitution of Sri Lanka which forbids Separatism.
June 12th, 2013 at 8:30 am
THIS IS THE FAULT OF THE INVERTEBRATE, IMBECILE MORONS WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF THE GOOD GOVERNANCE OF SRI LANKA. THEY SHOULD NOT ALLOW THESE TAMIL TNAf “OUR SOULS ” TO HOP TOf ENDIA AND TALK ABOUT THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF THE COUNTRY. IF THEY GO AND DISCUSS WITH ENDIA ABOUT SRI LANKA INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND IT POLITICS, THEY SHOULD EITHER NOT ALLOW THEM TO COME BACK, OR SEND ANY COLOURED VAN TO THE AIRPORT TO BRING THEM TO HOME SWEET HOME.
IT APPEARS THAT THE GOVERNMENT ISf SCARED OF THE TNA. ALL GOVERNMENT POLITICIANS fMOUTHS ARE GLUED. THEY IS NOT ONE “OUR SOUL ” IN THE GOVERNMENT TO CHECK THIS AUDACITY OF GETTING TNA TO GO TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS TO INTERVENE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF SRI LANKA. IS THERE NO LAW IN THE CONSTITUTION TO CHECK THIS ? THEY SHOULD LEGALLY PUT THESE FELLOWS TO A PENITENTIARY, AND GIVE THEM A GOOD VACATION.
THERE IS NOT A SINGLE “OUR SOUL” IN THE OPPOSITION WHO COULD MATCH MR. THIS IS THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM.
June 12th, 2013 at 9:42 am
Hello everyone! wouldn’t it be nice to see some civil language free of profanities here ~ thank you.
Apart from those of Fran Diaz the rest of the comments are not really in keeping with the ethics of Lankaweb or civility regardless of how contemptible the TNA or any other entity or individual might be and furthermore it could bring to disrepute the good name of Lankaweb. Perhaps the editorial staff might be well advised to request a code of proper languaget or else withold publication of comments laced with profanities like most site do.
June 12th, 2013 at 9:45 am
the names of Messers. Bernard Wijeysinghe and Lorenzo too has not overstepped the profanity barrier it needs to be observed~ Thanks
June 12th, 2013 at 12:13 pm
I agree with Sunil Mahattaya- We wish to have a forum where one can debate and or comment in a civil manner without the personal attacks, innuendos or profanities or for that matter spelling “keyboard malfunctions”.
I’m however rather surprised, we continue to see duplicate post as if lankaweb readers are rather thick in assimilating the facts and able to form an independent opinion.
Be that as it may, my comments to this forum takes a record 48 to 60 hours to appear. I must be the lucky one!
With relevance to the above article my comment on a previous post as yet to be published.
(apologies if it is been repeated)
President Rajapakse has a dilemma
There are vociferous people seeking the abolition of the 13th Amendment (which, incidentally he should have done soon after the defeat of the LTTE) like the newly formed “Collective for the abolition of the Provincial Council System”.
Pres Rajapakse on various occasions has given undertakings and promises to the International Community for the full implementation of the 13th including holding NPC election. The IC just does not mean just India & USA but also includes countries that supported Sri Lanka against the UN Resolution.It was a bargaining tool used by MR to canvas support for SL at 3 UN Conflabs. I believe he even promised India & USA as far back as Mar/Apr 2009 as a quid pro quo for non interference during the last stages of the war and evidence of War Crimes allegations.
It also suits the President politically to have the Provincial Counselors during Parliamentary and Presidential elections.
However, the Northern & Eastern province has no advantage to him as he is unlikely to gain a foot hold if free and fair elections are held. The granting of land and police powers to the PC especially to the North is a sticking point for obvious reasons.
Therefore, i see various Amendments will be introduced to dilute the 13th and give wide ranging powers to the Executive like the 18th Amendment.
Abolition of the Provincial Councils will severely dilute his grass root voter “muscle” which is not exactly ideal for the President.
I have yet to read or hear him say he wishes to abolish the 13th (he cant contrary to the undertakings)instead he gets his stooges to make the noises with confusion thrown in to keep the populace guessing.
India (being the super power in SE Asia and immediate neighbor) has been given the unenviable task by the IC including Countries that supported SL to keep a watching brief on the promises given by Pres Rajapakse and his Govt.
June 12th, 2013 at 12:23 pm
Wow!
My comment above took less than 2 minutes.
I’m indeed humbled by the rapid “moderation” action.
Thank you
June 12th, 2013 at 1:45 pm
“India (being the super power in SE Asia and immediate neighbor)”
It does NOT matter to SL because SL is NOT in SE Asia but in South Asia!!
China is already in south Asia as nuclear attack submarine statistics show. So Endia is NOT the superpower in south Asia.
Get you facts right Micro.
June 12th, 2013 at 2:43 pm
India is our neighbor – but a Superpower ? no. India, when rattled is a bully. India has potential to be a great country – but will they do it, or be allowed to do it ?
June 12th, 2013 at 7:38 pm
I have repeatedly requested my friend of getting rid of moderation – which upsets the flow of comments- I can understand Marco’s or micro’s (as lorenzo puts it) concerns. compared with other journals or blogs lankaweb is all good. we do not need to be conservative and conventional like our murderous English spleaking colombons in the use of language. dena ekkata ridenna denna oney. hit with a stick not with a feathered brush!
my friend knows what profanity is – no one needs to enlighten him. lankaweb is a good and thriving forum, probably the best among sri Lankan forums – anyone who doesn’t like it can exist before they are kicked out as was the case with few who went on a rampage of slandering commentators including the editor.
india is a super power? what crap is that!! well in that case Pakistan our friend too is a super power as they both have nuclear weapons. pl. don’t get entangled in these terms created by the anglo saxon ungulate to keep a fear psychosis among peoples of the world. the great Vietnamese won against the super power – does that mean Vietnam is a super power? ! uncondition yourself – these foolish concepts created by the west.
June 13th, 2013 at 5:11 am
It was the Cold War that prompted India to impose the 13-A on Sri Lanka. The Cold War has ended (1946-1991). There is no need for India to continue imposing the 13-A on Sri Lanka. Tamil leaders’ Separatism rode on the back of the Cold War. Tamil Separatism must end if true Reconciliation & Development has to take place in Sri Lanka for all in Sri Lanka.
June 13th, 2013 at 7:30 am
As far as the President is concerned, he appears to be virtually washing his hands off the decision making process whether to remove the 13-A or not. Various people close to him want to remove the 13-A. There is a Bill in Parliament that the President removes his powers to join adjoining Provinces. The President is correct in letting due Democratic processes lead to the ultimate decision on the 13-A, whether by Parliament or by Referendum.
As for the TNA: They are again running to India for a booster shot. The TNA is now defunct as the Tamil people can see that they are only leading the Tamils astray with the Separatist call. As long as the TNA leads the Tamils of Lanka toward Tamil Nadu (or India) as the ‘headquarters’ for Tamils, what future have Tamil people to be trusted leaders in Sri Lanka ?
June 13th, 2013 at 1:39 pm
Fran Diaz,
” The TNA is now defunct as the Tamil people can see that they are only leading the Tamils astray with the Separatist call.”
I beg to disagree.
The TNA is alive and well, because they are STILL ABLE to play on the GREED of Tamils by offering them an EXCLUSIVE SLICE of Sri Lanka AND a SHARED SLICE of the rest of Sri Lanka. After all, is it not true that the biggest chunk of Tamil MPs in the Sri Lanka Parliament got there with the votes of the majority of Sri Lankan Tamils in their constituencies.
With the help of the Tamil Diaspora, India and the neocolonialist West, they are convincing the war-weary Tamils in Sri Lanka that there is a still a chance of having their Eelamist cake, and eating the rest-of-Sri Lanka’s cake too!
It is up to the Patriotic People of Sri Lanka to firmly and decisively CLOSE THIS DOOR TO EELAM in the TNA’s face, and demonstrate BEYOND A DOUBT to Tamil People in Sri Lanka that there is no path that remains open towards an existence separate from a common existence as citizens of Sri Lanka.
As long as the vision of a SEPARATE EXISTENCE is allowed to be kept alive by the GOSL by its INACTION, the agitation for it will CONTINUE and the TNA (and the ITAK/Federal Party) will thrive …. as it is thriving now.
Among the PRINCIPAL methods of driving this FINAL NAIL into EELAM’S COFFIN is the REPEAL the 13th Amendment and DISSOLVE the Provincial Councils NOW ….. as you and I strongly advocate.
It is only when this is done, and the TNA is exposed as a DEAD END … that Sri Lankan Tamils will turn away from them towards re-integration into the larger Sri Lankan society. As long as we feed the TNA’s Eelamist monster by keeping the 13th Amendment alive, either in its original form or its many diluted variants, the TNA will enjoy the aura and hope engendered by this FOREIGN POISON PILL, and will persiist in its SEPARATIST ways, continuing to find support among Sri Lankan Tamils.
June 14th, 2013 at 1:31 pm
Brilliant analysis Ananda!
Yes Fran Diaz seems a bit hazy about TNA being defunct with the Tamil people~ certainly not all of them!
They are a bunch of con artists very adept at pulling the wool over undiscerning eyes and minds.Your viewpoints are virtually in total in incredible hindsight and a panacea for much of Sri Lanka’s dilemma with how the TNA needs to be contained as well as a foundation for what the GOSL needs towards justifying the quashing of the ccontentious 13th Amendment which will surely prove to be an abomination in the long run and not a solution towards uniting the nation.
Well said!
June 15th, 2013 at 2:18 pm
“Maybe India needs reminding that she is not immune to such tactics. The Buddhist Sanga could have talks with the Maoists who are fighting India’s corruption, her caste system and the apathy that has let to the ever growing slums and the broken hopes of countless millions”
I like that idea Mr BW. Dont wait. Lets promote it!
June 15th, 2013 at 4:28 pm
Fran is a strong and consistent patriot.
But TNA is stronger than ever!
AFTER north PC elections TNA will be like Jeyalalitha’s party. We will see DAILY clashes between foolish Jaffna uni students and police. Demonstrations and other nonsense demanding Tamil Elam.
Tamil people created ITAK.
ITAK created LTTE.
LTTE created TNA.
TNA contests elections as ITAK.
It is an incest relationship between TNA and LTTE.
TNA is in constant contact with Jeyalalitha (Tamils call her amma).
Another complication in their incest relationship.