A reply to Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian- M.A.Sumanthiran
Posted on January 11th, 2011
By Charles.S.Perera
The Tamil National Alliance wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ launched by the terrorist Prabhakaran to have a group of ParliamentariansƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to be his spokesmen in the Parliament. While Prabhakaran continued his terrorism to set up his dream- Tamil Homeland in a merged North and East , he wanted his TNA Parliamentarians toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ be his complementary ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-companions in armsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ to defend his activities in the Parliament, and to mislead the InternationalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Community by propagating that terrorism is only a fight for freedom and for a territorial separation ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka to set up a separate Eelam State.
With the elimination of terrorism, the TNA is apparently on their own or still under contract to theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ pro – terrorist TamilƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ expatriate community to beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theirƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ voice in the Parliament in Sri Lanka and outside.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ However the TNA still remains the voice of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- PrabhakranƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ the Thalaivar. Now without calling for a separate Eelam State, TNA MPs are nevertheless pushing the same ideaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ interposingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a demand for a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- meaningful devolution of powerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ not forgetting the merger of the North and East by implementing theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 13 th Amendment to the Constitution.
M.A.Sumanthiran of the TNA has expressed the willingness of the TNA to work with the government to solve key issues affecting the Tamils in a long interview with the The Nation,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ adding that the TNA stands for ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- meaningful devolution of power ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-, and constitutional reforms within a united countryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ under a federal structure.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
If M.A.Sumanthiran is still a part ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ParbhakaranƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s dream of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamil Homeland, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it is best he wakes up now to theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ realityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of the present situationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and think of more constructive ways ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ using his political wisdom, if he has any.
Firstly, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ M.A.Sumanthiran the TNA Parliamentarian has to be reminded that he is now not in a position to dictate terms to the government as to what it should do. Terrorism is over and the post terrorist Sri Lanka has to rethink how to integrate ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the different Communities in to a Sri Lankan Nationhood.
That cannot be done the way Sumanthiran proposes it.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ His way of thinking is still coloured by his allegiance to the memory of the terrorists, the creators of the TNA his sun God the Thalaivar of yester year -Prabhakaran.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ SumanthiranƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with his ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-meaningful devolution of political power theoryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ pointing to the merger of the North and EastƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as requiredƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ under the 13th AmendmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to the Constitution, and the proposal of a Federal Constitution all hark back to PrabhakaranƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Homeland dream.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The TNA is now in the process of trying to dupe the Sinhala ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-modayasƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ to accept politically, which Prabhakaran failed to achieve through terror.
Sumanthiran cannot get any where with his lopsided political theories asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ neither the President of Sri Lanka nor the Sinhala people have fallen from the last rain, as a well known saying goes.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ SumanthiranƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ speaks of the APRCƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and the decision taken by the Commission and adds that merger of North and the East was part of the 13th amendment stressing that the merger should remain in an improved version of the 13th amendment, or if the current format of the 13th Amendment is implemented in full.
Today it is most advisable that the APRC and what ever decisions taken there should be shelvedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ along with the 13th Amendment, andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ whatever communiquƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚© Sumanthiran says the President issued after his visit to India.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sumanthiran should put into his littleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ head that it is not the merger of the North and East that will solve the problems of the Tamil people, but it is the willingness of the Tamils to merge their narrow Tamil nationalism into the larger ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ mainstream Sri LankanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ political system along with ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Sinhala , Muslim, and theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ other communities to be absorbed into a larger Sri Lankan nationhood, that will solve their problems. Otherwise the Tamils will always stand apart and will continue toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ nurture the Sinhala Tamil conflict.
Sumanthiran in his interview speaks of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ visit of a delegation of TNA MPs ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ meet theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Indian political leaders consulted by the President of Sri Lank, andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ requested that India who started the 13th Amendment to the Constitution should intervene to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ see the successful implementation of it.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But Sumanthiran does not seem to know that, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India has no right to intervene in the implementation or not of the 13thƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Amendment. The government with its two third majority has no problem in withdrawing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which remains as an eye sore to every patriotic Sri Lankan.
IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s interest in the Amendment is solely to the extent how much it would help to win the confidence of the Tamilnadu Tamils to sustain the Indian Unity, and has no interest beyond that whether it is to assist Sri Lanka, or for the wellbeing of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That interest of India to do any thing to assure the support of Tamilnadu, becomes more evident with Karunanidhi building ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-strong bridgesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Kerala State.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Would it end up as a merger of the two States ?
Sumanthiran and his TNA colleagues should put that pseudo interest of India in Sri Lanka Tamils into its correct perspective , and understand that it is futile to bring India to intervene in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka. They should instead find a workable solution for the Tamil problem- if there is one, in consultation with the President of Sri Lanka and the Sinhala and Muslim communities.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s intervention inside the air space of Sri Lanka in 1987 was in contravention of the International Law and India has no right to continue with the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Amendment to the Constitution it forced on Sri Lanka ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ following their illegal intervention to help theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ terrorists under siege by the Sri Lanka Armed Forces.
SumanthiranƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ speaks of immediate ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-concern of our people.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”obviously referring to the people in the North and East who had votedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for them.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Nevertheless, Sumanthiran should not forget that the people of North and East are ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-our people as well ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-, even if they did not vote to the political parties representingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the President.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
The Sinhala people sacrificed many of their children for the sake of these people in the North and East, who were under the iron boots of terrorism for a considerable period of time.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And those people had a strange way of showing their gratitude for that great deliverance. Despite that ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Sinhala and other communities also have an interest, as communities sharingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ mother Lanka in the welfare of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-our peopleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in the North and East.
Speaking on the demerger of the North and East Sumanthiran argues that the ruling of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Supreme Court was, that theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ modality of the mergerƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of the two provinces was flawed , therefore theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Supreme Court was not against the merger itself. Here SumathiranƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s argument is in itself flawed.
The merger was brought about to facilitateƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Indian Peace Keeping Force to keep the twoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ provinces as one to enable it to control the two provinces, keeping ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in check the terrorists from attacking the IPKF and go into hiding in another province. The two provincesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ should have been automaticallyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ demerged immediately after the Indian Peace Keeping Force left .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There is no reason what- so- ever to merge the two provinces now just to please the TNA which is only promoting the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- terrorist dreamƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ SumanthiranƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ says that the President Mahinda Rajapake had said that he would go beyond the 13th Amendment in implementing it.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If it isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to go beyond the 13th Amendment it should be toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ eliminate the advancement ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ communal disunityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by stopping the Tamil politicians dividing the countryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ having political parties with communal identity.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
If there are no political parties separately for the Tamils and MuslimsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ there want beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ any ethnic problem.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The question of ethnic problem arises from the fact that there are separate Political partiesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamils and Muslims.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If the Tamils and the Muslims would fall inline with the mainstream political system, most of the problemsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Tamils highlighted now ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by the TNA and other Tamil political parties will dissolve.
For 19 years the North and East remained merged because of the terrorism. Sumanthiran has forgotten that the electionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of the TNA MPsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was questioned .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The ballot boxes were stuffed withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ false ballot papers by terrorist goons.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Election Commissioner had considered declaring it null and void but allowed it as the conditionsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ were uncertain because of terrorism for a second election.
On the 9 February 2009ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in an article in Asia Tribune, entitled Ban the TNA, it was stated ,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Anandasangaree urges Sri Lanka Government to ban the Tamil National Alliance for being a proxy party of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and advocating on behalf of the terrorist organization, even after it has been banned in Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
There you are M.A Sumanthiran your boast about representing the Tamils in North and East is contested by none other than a veteran Tamil Politician Anandasangaree.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So how can you impose your will on the government with regard to merging of the North and EastƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ againƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to please the TNA which is in actual fact the old terrorist LTTE under a new label.
The Tamil politicians have no monopoly to decide on what form the political map of Sri Lanka should take.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Sinhala people have every right toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ take a decision whether the Tamils like it or not as they are the ones who have made the greatest sacrifice to defend the North and East and make it a safe place for every one to live. It is also the Sinhala people who had maintained the unitary state of Sri LankƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ from the beginning of historical times.
The Tamils cannot be like the vulture who come to take over the carcass after the big cats have captured their prey. Of course the North and East is no bodyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s prey. TNA now says that all Tamil PartiesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Muslim Parties want theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ merger of the North and East. The TNA dictating terms now were with the terrorists trying to divide the country and they never asked the Tamil people in the North and the East then ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as to what they wanted.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
The TNA continuing its present politics will only separate ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ further the Tamil people from the Sinhala , the Tamil people in the North and the East who voted for the TNA had been mislead.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There is only one decision that has to be taken by the Tamil people and that is to bury their oldƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ misgivings about the Sinhala people and join them to form a larger Sri Lankan Nation.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If the Tamils were to stand out side the Sinhala and the main stream Sri Lankan politics they would have nothing but the wrath of the Sinhala people who had given so much to unite the communities and keep the country undivided and as a whole.
If M.A.Sumanthiran has an intelligent mind he will understand, that calling for the rights of the Tamil people, and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ demanding devolution of political power to the TamilƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ people, are nothing other than efforts to concentrate political power in theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ hands of the Tamil politicians. It is not for the welfare of the majority of the Tamils.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
If Sumnthiran is really working for the welfare of the Tamils, he should demand the Tamil people to integrate with the Sinhala and other communities to build a greater nation of Sri Lankans.
Sumanthiram should also call upon the Tamils of the Diaspora to give up their divisive politics and integrate in to the mainstream politicsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ without insisting on narrow communal rights.
TNAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s inability solve the problem of the Tamil people despiteƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ getting their votes is evident from their trying to be a part of Tamilnadu, which is alsoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the result of the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ TNAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ up bringing ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in the cradle of terrorism. TNA MPs have to give that up if they have to have any political credence with the Government of Sri Lanka or the Sinhala people.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
TNA Parliamentarian Mavi Senathi Raja had recently said that they are proposing to have talks with Rahul Gandhi with regard to his comments about the peril of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ AndƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ spoke of being happy with the statement of Rahul Gandhi, and wants to speak to the Central Government with regard to the Sri Lanka Tamils.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This is going too far. TNA should know whether they are Si Lankans or Indians . TNA seems to be ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ keeping one leg in India and the Other in Sri Lanka. It only shows TNAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s political immaturity.
This attitude of TNA is totally condemned by the Sinhala people.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ TNA should work with the Sri Lanka GovernmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and the people of Sri Lanka . ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is necessary for the Tamils of Sri Lanka to be Sri Lankans and not mere Tamils in Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
If TNA continues this sharing views with India and continually consult India about the affairs of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, they will never settle the problems of Tamils in Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It was this sort of double dealings that ended up in numerous riots in Sri Lanka, and resulted in many deaths in 1983 .
G.G.Ponnambalam calling forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ fifty fifty orƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ equal rights with the Sinhala majority, andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ChelvanayagamƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ opposing the Sinhala only Bill and asking for autonomy for their region throughƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a Federal system of Government, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ were divisive politics practiced by the Tamils despite their being just a 13 per cent of the population, which distanced the Tamils from the mainstream Sinhala people.
The Sinhala people were angered by these unreasonable demands of the Tamil political leaders.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Anger is an emotion that blinds people.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The harbored anger whenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it breaks outƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ vengeanceƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ sees no reason.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ These were the causes that lead to riots in which many were killed in 1983.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Tamils brought about these calamities on themselves.
If the Tamils of the TNA continue with their separatist politics, they willƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ be responsible for any future ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-perilsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and unfortunate repetition ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ what happened then to the Tamil people.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Therefore the TNA should go about cautiouslyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ without making unrealistic demands , ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ change their political tactic to work together with the Sinhala people as Sri Lankans and not as Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Sinhala people are quite capable ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ looking after not onlyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ themselves, but also the Tamils , Muslims and all the rest evenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ without the help of the rest of the communities.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ They are quite capable also of defending their country on their own, but it would be far better if the Tamils fall in line with the Sinhala to build Sri Lanka for every one of us whether we are Communally, Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim.
TNA should therefore disengage from any alliance with TamilNadu politicians andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ identify themselves as Sri Lankans.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And change the political name of their party Tamil National Alliance to some thing likeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lankan Patriotic Alliance ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ or join the SLFP or the UNP to show their complete acceptance of Sri Lankan Nationality with distinct ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ patriotism to Sri Lanka as their one and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ only motherland.
January 11th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Few things must be clarified first before any “solution”.
1. When will TNA shed racism from its party name? Tamil is a race and Tamil national alliance is by definition racist.
2. When will politicians from the north and east will stop making racist demands? They only talk about Tamils. How about the others?
3. If the recipients of devolved power are TNA politicos, devolution is highly dangerous. So there cannot be any devolution until the likes of TNA, TULF, ACTC, ITAK, etc. drop their racism from their party names, demands and aspirations.
4. SL must ban all racist political parties and racist demands. Laws should be brought in to make it illegal to entertain racist demands. All demands must be for the citizens and there should not be any racial classification of humans.
5. SL leaders must have the courage to say, “we don’t give you anything more than equal individual rights. If you are unhappy, go jump in the lake. We have complete faith in our military to defeat any violent attempts so the threat of war won’t work with us.”
Sumanthiran is a hardcore Tamil racist of Tamil national alliance fame.
January 11th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
Charles, you have done a great job of analyzing what is going on with the TNA. As you say, Tamils, like any other Sri Lankan should learn to be citizens of Sri Lanka in “thought and act”. It appears that they seem to think that they are Indians. Sri Lankan government must consider these traitors who connive with foreign governments to bring disrepute and disaster to Sri Lanka as traitors, and treat them accordingly. They should not be allowed to lead anyone, in politics or outside politics. Sri Lanka belongs to Sri Lankans and Sri Lankans only. India or any other country has nothing to do with, though in the past, India acted like terrorists themselves, imposing the 13th amendment and various other activities by force, mostly to appease the Tamilnadu politicians. Problems in Sri Lanka should be solved by all Sri Lankans by being part of the solution. Now that the extremist terrorist militants are no more, SL should consider progressive policies and legislation to make it possible for all Sri Lankans, irrespective of race and religion, to enjoy the benefits of peace. This should allow any Sri Lankan to live anywhere in Sri Lanka. If there are any obstacles to this happening, they should be removed. Just like any Sinhalese,Tamil or Muslim should be able to live in Colombo, Kandy or Galle, any Sinhalese, Muslim or Tamil should be able to live in Jaffna, Mannar or Batticolo or any other place. Sri Lanka belongs to all Sri Lankans. All Sri Lankans should learn to be Sri Lankans ans be proud of that. A revised Education system must see to that this is a major objective of their plans for the future.
January 11th, 2011 at 9:24 pm
CHARLES ! very analytically presented indeed. Hope the Legislators take serious cogniscance, and ACT.
This talk about DEVOLUTION OF POWER, flows from an ‘ eternal pipe dream, ‘ of the PRO TIGER TAMIL TERRORISTS Sympathisers, and those who still hold writ for their idealogies, vis-a-vis The TNA, of the mythical Tamil Homeland, Tamil Dominated Areas, Tamil Provinces, merger of two Provinces etc.
The TNAs attempt to put a FEAR CLOSE on the Government of Sri Lanka, by declaring that they are going to INDIA for consultations, to clinch their deals, by apparent Indian coercion, is the same eternal pipe dream. Dropping Names, like Rahul, is a part of the Fear Close. Rahul is a green horn, learning how to impress.
The first thing that the Government must do through Parliament is to DECLARE THE 13TH AMENDMENT DEFUNCT. Then the meaning of Devolution would be redundant.
The next thing that the Government should do, is to make the phrases, Tamil Homeland, Tamil Dominated Areas, Tamil Provinces, etc, meaningless. How could this be done ? Kumar Moses very explicitly explained in this forum HOW TO. Many others who write to this Forum concurred, and expressed their concerns too.
First, bring back all the SINHALESE and the MUSLIMS back to the North, who were ethnically cleansed within 48 hours, by the Tamil Tiger Terrorists. Rehabilitate them in their lands where they resided initially. The FIGURES woould be 80,000 TAMILS, and 20,000 SINHALESE. This should be done in the Eastern Province too. There should be Army, Navy, and Airforce Camps dotting the entire Northern and Eastern Provinces. Equally true, there should be Police Stations dotting the two provinces too. Everybody should be given land and housing. Each Individual should get enough land to PLANT 5 COCONUT TREES, TWO JACK TREES, TWO DEL- BREAD FRUIT TREES, and may be a MANGO TREE or 2TWO. Make them feel it is a permanent way of life. The Infa Structure will automatically take shape.
So, now, who needs Devolution ? Who needs Police Powers ? There will be no takers. TNA can fold its mats, go to the EAST or NORTH, and plant KOTTA KELENGU for posterity.
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT ALLOW THE TNA TO JOIN THE GOVERNMENT. IT COULD BE EQUATED TO, AND IS TANTAMOUNT TO RANIL AND THE INFAMOUS CFA. It will be ….proverbially——PARA YANA GARANDI REDDA ASSE DAMA GANNAWA, vagey.
January 12th, 2011 at 12:37 am
DEVOLUTION OF POWER IS IS NOT A BIG THING IN ANY CIVILIZED SOCIETY.
WHY ARE YOU ALL BARKING WITHOUT MENTIONING M.A. SUMANTHIRAN BELONG TO THE CHURCH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH?
January 12th, 2011 at 3:54 am
Devolution of powers for Sri Lanka wanted by:
1. Tamil Country’s (tamil nadu) expansionist racist political jokers such as M.Karunanidhi, M.G.Ramachandran’s partner Jayalalitha, Nedumaran, Seeman, RAW (Indian Spy agency), some north Indian politicos and CIA agents. They wanted to annex Sri Lanka’s north and east first to tamil country then annex up country and invade Sri Lanka finally to make Dravida nadu.
2. USA and NATO henchmen such as U.K, Norway, Germany, France and Scandinavian countries having agenda to take control of Trincomalee port then whole Indian ocean and fisheries resources, hydro carbon, ilmenite and other minerals etc.
3. Tamil racist political parties whom doesn’t have any real political vision or agenda but in the Indian spy service’s (RAW) pay list and dance according to RAW strings, know only murmuring devolution of powers and 13th amendment to exist in north and east.
4. Western funded NGO’s. They had to act according to their paymaster’s wish. Norwegian/EU funded Jehan Perera, Pakiyasothi, German Burghof funded Jamis Uyangoda, Kumar Rupasinghe, Sunanda Deshapriya etc. Their agenda is for no 2.
5. Anti Sinhala Buddhist fundamentalists. Jayalath Jayawardena, Ranil Wicramasinghe. They wanted to take revenge from Sinhala nation.
6. CIA, MI6, RAW spy agents in Sri Lanka.
Other than those minorities neither Sinhala majority nor the tamils living in Sri Lanka want any devolution. Majority of tamils living in Sinhala areas therefore it is obvious that devolution is not for Sri Lankan tamils.
13th amendment signed by forced against the wish of Sinhala majority. It was openly rejected in the guard of honor by a rifle butt treatment to Rajiv Gandhi. Since majority Sinhala vehemently rejects the devolution and 13th amendment no one has any right to tell us any devolution for Sri Lanka.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:51 am
This is one of the broken promises by Governement. Why can’t they act not and pass lwas to remove racism by Tamils.
Tamils such as Mudali are clearly racists who cannot be changed. Whatever the fault of any Tamil he says it is the Chrstian Church and now he says Queen’s Church.
To Mudali Prbhakaran was trained in Vatican to kill people.
To Mudali we too are babies who do not know Tami Tigers were trained by Hnidu Tamil Nadu which is a part of India.
Hindu Rahul Gandhi is now barking. Mudali also barking in a different tune.
True, some parts of Church did not help to remove terrorism, rather helped LTTE but main source of barbaric terrorism comes from Hindus in Tamil Nadu.
Is Seeman a Christian ? Are Jayalalita, Vaiko and other naked jokers Christians ?
January 12th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
Seeman is a Catholic.
But you guys are trying to hide the involvements of Church in the terror in Sri Lanka.
People like Lorenzo or Costa never question the NAZI POPE in Vatican to remove Fr. Emmanuel for claiming the LTTE as the DIVINE SOLDIERS OF CHRIST.
The Catholics and Sinhalese never tell why UNP and the Catholic Church support LTTE. Can they?
Barking at India or Tamil is just to hide their support for USA and UK which are their masters!
January 13th, 2011 at 1:28 am
Mudali,
Thank you for info. I thought this Maniac Seeman was a Hindu.
All Germans are not Nazis. If pope is Nazi he will start killing Jews first. Why should he be involved in Sri Lanka.
Your attack on Church will devide both Tamils and Sinhalas – so stop this. We must unite both these races to fight against invaders such as Seeman. I don’t know about Fr. Emmanuel to question his behaviour. I have questioned Ranjit’s behaviour.
January 13th, 2011 at 7:00 am
It seems that, like the proverbial leopard which does not change its spots, the TNA has not changed either and remains committed to the agenda it pursued when it acted as proxies for the LTTE.
‘Meaningful devolution’ that they speak of is nothing less than a first step towards achieving a separate state. Why is this devolution required only for the North and Eastern provinces and not the other provinces? The moment you grant that additional devolution is required in these provinces you also concede that they have to be treated differently. These provinces are different only in their ethnic mix. So, if you make an exception in their case you’d be doing so on the basis of race and is not acceptable.
The Tamil political leadership has been consistent in its search for a separate state. It has not always openly revealed its hand. But at every possible turn it has sought concessions towards achieving that goal. In 1956, the Federal Party led the opposition to the Official Languages Act, allegedly because it unfairly discriminated against the Tamils, on the basis of their language. In response to those protests, Mr Bandaranaike signed the infamous B-C Pact with Mr Chelvanayagam. Now, you would have thought that the pact would have tried to redress the alleged language related disabilities flowing from that the legislation. But the Pact went way beyond that. It envisaged a merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces and a governing body with powers over subjects which included colonization schemes, powers to select allottees to whom lands within their area of authority shall be alienated and the power to select personnel to work on such schemes. The ulterior motives of Mr Chelvanyagam and his people were clear.
Mr JR Jayewardene is now blamed for all manner of things. But the country should be grateful to him for having so dramatically organised opposition to the B-C Pact which compelled Mr Bandaranaike, albeit, under pressure, to abrogate the ill advised agreement.
Mr Chelvanayagam tried the same tactics with Mr Dudley Senanayake. The Dudley-Chelvanayagam pact some eight years later will have similarly advanced the separatist cause. This agreement provided that in the granting of land under colonization schemes, landless persons in the district were to have first priority, followed by Tamil speaking persons resident in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and then other citizens of the island, with preference being given to Tamil citizens [not `Tamil Speaking’] resident in the rest of the Island.. The Sinhalese were effectively excluded. Thankfully, like the B-C Pact before it, the Dudley-Chelva agreement was abandoned.
The apostles of separatism have not been discouraged by these setbacks and are now looking to the 13th Amendment to convey them to where earlier efforts failed to take them. But the 13A is a dead letter and one wonders whether it ought not to be formally repealed. The 13A was imposed on the island by a bullying India. Agreements entered into under duress are voidable in law. The 13A was also part of a larger agreement that envisaged India disarming the LTTE. India spectacularly failed to keep that part of the bargain. The 13A has not been applied for over 20 years and by the passage of time itself must be considered to have lapsed. All these reasons make the 13A no longer relevant.
There is no room in Sri Lanka any more for race based politics or political parties. When the central government in India felt the stirrings of secessionist sentiment in the south in the 60s, Nehru lost no time in bringing in legislation to outlaw political parties that pursued secessionist aims. Perhaps, it is time for Sri Lanka to similarly outlaw all political parties that are race based – regardless of what race they represent – Tamil, Sinhalese or Muslim. That would be a useful first step.
In the meantime, the country needs to remain vigilant. The politics of separatism did not disappear with Prabhakaran at Nanthikadal – far from it. It lives on. And we need to appreciate that those who suffer defeat do not always just give up and lie down and lie. Most will re-group and return to battle with renewed vigour. So the old threats continue.
Prabhakaran’s grand dream was a huge nightmare for the whole country. Thousands of service personnel paid with their lives to bring his madness to and end and many of his own people perished in the process. The country has paid a very heavy price. It cannot afford to do it again, and everything should be done to ensure the misfortune is not repeated. The TNA has a heavy responsibility. It cannot and should not abuse the trust people have reposed in it but act in their true interests and in the true interests of the country as a whole.
January 15th, 2011 at 7:13 pm
What Charles is attempting to do is try logical reasoning wthe Tamils. This is not possible. Good example is M.S.Mudali Tamils cannot understand what a Ballot Box is. I will give you a good example: Following is what Judge C.G. Meeramanty told the LLRC Commission. This British Colonial PUNK cane from Australia to tell Late J.R. Jawardana that he MUST NOT Create the one man one vote republic. (JR took this as a joke) This Judge Punk would have got over million dollares from INDIA RAW and CIA. This Punk must understand that SL is the ONLY country that elects its Presedent by the people. India, Canada Australia etc are governed by committees. This war could have never won without this great constitution.
January 16th, 2011 at 11:54 am
British Prime Minister, David Camoran told the Parliament today, that more than 5000 Tamil only owned businesses are in UK and employes over 50,000 Tamil people. Combined wealth of this Tamil only Businesses are over ONE BILLON Pound Sterling. This Tamil only contribution to the UK economy MUST be recognized. Can some one say, how can Sinhala logically communicate with the BRITISH?? Now what about TAMIL ONLY Businesses in other countries?
January 18th, 2011 at 5:30 am
Kit Athul,
I take it that in your comments of 15th Janauary, ‘Meeramanty’ is meant to read ‘Weeramantry’ and that your reference is to Judge CG Weeramantry, the former Vice President of the International Court of Justice.
I have read Judge Weeramantry’s reported submission to the LLRC Commission and nowhere could I find him claiming he told JR about not creating “the one man one vote republic” that you mention.
But that aside, Judge Weeramantry is a distinguished, erudite and patriotic Sri Lankan, and I have no doubt whatever advice he will have given Mr JR Jayewardene will have been carefully considered and soundly based, whether or not JR “took it as a joke”.
I am surprised and saddened to find you referring to Judge Weeramantry as ‘This British Colonial PUNK’ and suggesting that he “would have got over million dollares (sic!) from INDIA RAW and CIA”. The latter statement seems to me to amount to nothing less than a gross libel.
January 19th, 2011 at 11:08 am
Kit Atul,
What I am trying to tell the Tamils is that now that the terrorists have been eliminated, the Tamils should forget the pre terrorist problems such as Communal conflicts and open a new Chapter.
It is not the devolution of political power , a separate Tamil Eelam that the Tamils should now fight for. But it is to find ways and means to work with the Sinhala and Muslim communities as compatriots sharing the same country, aspiring to become one with others and take the Sri Lankan identity .
Let us all be Sri Lankans, let us not have separate political parties for Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese. Let us become UNP or SLFP. There are no Tamil rights, Sinhala rights and Muslim rights , but instead we will share each others rights as a nation.
The Sinhala people speak up for this unity but the Tamils are not listening they want to fight for their rights. There must be some liberal Tamils who are fed up with “ Tamil this , and Tamil that” and just want to be Sri Lankans among other Sri Lankans. Isn’t it the time for these liberal Tamils to speak up and say let us forget everything and let us become Sri Lankans ?
Why are the liberal Tamils not coming forward and speak up for unity, at least one of them?
Karuna Amman has shown that it is possible to be a Sri Lankan while still being a Tamil.
Why cannot other Tamils think similarly ? Do they still want to be a separate minority fighting with the majority , and one day start another attempt at terrorism to set up the Tamil Eelam State ?