Why the Tamil voters in North and East should support the President Mahinda Rajapaksa ?
Posted on July 21st, 2011
By Charles.S.Perera
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The elections in the North and the East set for the 23rd July would be a deciding factor forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s future development, progress and un-interfered existence as a unitary Nation. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ For 30 years the North and East of Sri Lanka had remained in a state of paralysisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ while the world around advanced forward. Now that the terrorism that had put the people of the North and East ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ into a mental stagnation for 30 years has been eliminated, the Tamil people of theseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ two ProvincesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ have ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to be awakened to actively participate in ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the present post terrorist development process.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The claim of a political devolution to the people of North and East, and that they should beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ given their rights to develop separately, is to keep them imprisoned in the mental set up ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ forced upon them byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ terrorists.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Terrorist wanted a separate Tamil Homeland, separated from the rest of the country. Now with the elimination of terrorism the Tamil people of the North and East have to be emancipate from thisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ mental stalemate, and brought into a process of development along side the rest of the country.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This process of emancipation requires a new way of thinking. The Tamil People of the North and East have to be made to think differently from a strictly ethnic stand point, and taught to appreciate the fact that there is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-no majority or minorityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ distinction as the President of Sri Lanka announced clear and loud immediately after the elimination of terrorism.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The future of the Tamil people of North and East is now along side the other communities ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”the Sinhalese, the Muslim, Burghers , Malays and the rest in the whole of Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The development of North and East is along with the South, and not separated from the South.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The resettlement of the IDPs in their former villages does not mean that theyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ should be allowed to continue to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ live the way they lived ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ before they were displaced, with their age old we ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamil mindset ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of the North and East.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But they have now to be taught to think differently as Sri Lankans, a part ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a Nation of Sri Lankans.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That is a new concept, freed from the concept of a Tamilness ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ they had been made to accept for the last thirty years by the terrorists.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This huge task of taking people from the oldƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to the new way of thinking cannot be done by the Tamil political parties.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The TNA and Ananadasangarees are livingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with their thirty year old political concepts, and they cannotƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ help the people of North and East to break away from the old political shackles,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and fall head long ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ into a different development processes that is going on, along with the rest of the Communities.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ anti Sri Lankan Western Countries lead byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ UK,USA, France, theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ pro-terrorist Tamil expatriates, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International , ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ UNOƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Ban Ki Moon, UNCHR Navineetham Pillai and the rest of the crowd have not thought of this need to bringƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamil peopleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of the North and East into theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ newƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ remarkable progressive development programs undertaken by the Government under the President Mahinda Rajapakse.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Their continued demandƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ give the Tamil people of the North and East a separate development program is not to help these people but to separate them from the main political streamƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ isolating them in the process, and in doing so handicap the development projects that have been started.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The President of Sri Lanka Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse, is a manƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who has very progressive ideasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ claiming himselfƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to be theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ President of the whole Nation of People .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He is a determined man, who eliminated terrorism when every oneƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ including the powerful nationsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ said that terrorism cannot be eliminated militarily.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He had thought out with wisdom, that giving the Tamil people, language rights is a step towards separating them from the rest of the communities.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Therefore, he promoted the idea of developing English education , at the same time requesting the public servants to learn both the Tamil andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Sinhala languages.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He built close relations with different religionsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to stop cultural segregation.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He developed the transport system to bring the people of the South and the North closer.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Despite all these progressive undertakings of the President Mahinda Rajapakse, ever since he was elected he had been continuously criticized , accused and barriers put before him to dampen his enthusiasm, and make failures of his courageous undertakings.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Nevertheless, in the face ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ all that opposition he has been ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ able to trace a path of hope for the people as a whole without communal, religious, or cultural bias.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Unfortunately in spite of these progressive activities, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ previous elections, the Tamil people of the North and East mislead by theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamil politicians of the TNA, did not show their support forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the progressive policies of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the President Mahinda Rajapaksa by voting for the candidates of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the UPFA.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That refusal of the Tamil people of the North and EastƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to vote forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ candidates put forward by theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ political party ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ which represent the President, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ despite their having suffered under terrorism, was taken by those Western Countries opposed to the President and his government as a proof of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Tamil peoplesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ rejection of the Government of the President Mahinda Rajapakse.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Everyone comes out with different sorts of accusations against the government, and makes proposals that are out dated and outmode.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ They areƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ not to help the Tamil people but to distance them from the Government and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ keep the Tamil people out of the development process of the country.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There are those who want the implementation of the 13 Amendment to the Constitution as if that would be the end of all problems of the Tamil people.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The 13 Amendment was proposed in 1987, but Sri Lanka has evolved since then.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The terrorism which was the reason for the proposal of the 13 Amendment, is now non existent and thereforeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the 13th Amendment , which was proposed to solved the problems that existed then , is not useful to solve the present day problems of the Tamil people.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Those age old proposals of Chelvanayagam , Ponnambalam , Sundaralingam at al ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to solve ethnic problems are out dated now.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ therefore those solutions proposed by the ancient politicians should be replaced with new proposals not with an eye to keep the Tamil people separated, but to bring them in to the main political stream, where they should ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ bury their ethnic difference, to join hands with all communities forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a common goal of making Sri Lanka a Unitary Sovereign State.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ JVP,TNA or even UNP have not come out with political solutions to a country which is fast developing .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Government of the President Mahinda Rajapakse has done commendable effort to develop the infrastructure of the country from Dondra to Point Pedro. The North and East are being developed to bring them in line with the South.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The garment exports which the opponents of the government claimed would be lost afterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the EU withdrew G+ trade concessions have regained the lostƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ markets and are showing increased sales.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ These have been made possible by the policies planned according to the Mahinda Chinthana of the Government.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Tamil people of the North and East to profit from these surging development of financial, economic, and social activities of the country should join hands with the government , by placing their complete confidence on the President Mahinda Rajapakse and his Government.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That confidence of the Tamil people of the North and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ East has become imperative to keep away the anti Sri Lanka Governments of the West from interfering into Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s affairs.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Tamil diaspora which is spending billions of DollarsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ paying foreign Senators, Attorneys, Media etc., to keep alive the Terrorist LTTE , has not so far spent a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-centƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ for the welfare of the Tamil people of the North and East.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ All the allegations against the Sri Lanka Government Armed Forces, and threat to take them before a tribunal for war crimes being made by the Ban Ki Moon with his Darusman Report, UNHCHR Navi Pillai with the Channel 4 video footages, Hillary Clinton with her uncalled for advice as to how Sri Lanka should look after its IDPs, are the result of the failure of the Tamil people of the North and East to place their confidence in the government of the President MahindaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Rajapakse.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Therefore it is important that the Tamil people of the North and East take these facts into consideration and vote on the 23 July,2011 for the candidates of the UPFA to show theirƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ solidarity with the Government of the President Mahinda Rajapakse.
July 21st, 2011 at 4:32 pm
No disrespect, but this is only wishful thinking. Just wait 2 days and you will see in the election result.
This is constructive criticism. Nothing bad intended. Lets not shut our eyes and ears to reality.
July 21st, 2011 at 5:27 pm
Ordinary Tamil people were under homeland concept for very longer time than 30 years misguided by so call Tamil politicians for their own benefit. Within this short period of time not much could be changed after war ended in 2009. Majority of Tamils have learned their mistake by following these politicians after the war ended. With elections on 23rd will give only a minor change of free Tamil people’s feeling. Its should not be the deciding point. However in North & East other communities should be mixed-up same as in South. The Govt: also should STOP spending money on unwanted activities and projects which are not required at this moment. Do the whole country development on same basis so that everywhere progress is similar. Thereby Tamils will realised the truth without “Homland”
July 24th, 2011 at 1:03 am
Lorenzo,
You were so right. I thought human suffering could change attitudes. But unfortunately they are a Community appart.
Perhaps it may be the Stockholm Syndrome ?
July 24th, 2011 at 1:53 am
Charles,
You are genuinely concerned about uplifting these lives. But it takes two to tango.
Don’t know where this will end up.
When I first went to Africa, I was shocked how people lived there and wanted to help. People laughed at me. They said no use. They said they deserve the state they are in! I was appalled by their attitude. But I persisted. However, after a few nasty experiences, I realized they were right. People in certain parts of Africa deserve to live (and die) the way they do unless they change their nasty race centred attitudes. They don’t want to correct.
Sadly this is the same fate that awaits Tamils of SL. But the others need not go down with them.
July 24th, 2011 at 5:30 am
Lorenzo,
When 20 years ago another catholic told me the something as what you said I disagreed with disgust.
But now, after so many of your children sacrificed their lives of Tamil children from the Satan Prabha, I can see Tamils have answered.
Sadly, I have no choice but agree with you that Tamils are Tamils.
Mahinda has to live with this stubborn, unjust child.
July 24th, 2011 at 6:46 am
Dham,
There are ways to correct him before he spoils other children!
I hope he starts using the STICK too instead of carrots alone.
July 24th, 2011 at 7:20 am
Going deeper into the Northern Tamil thinking, here is a possible explanation.
* TNA is strongly connected to Tamil Nadu politics. Tamil Nadu politics made a strong connection with Sri Lankan Tamils when M..G Ramachandran from our Hill Country went to TN & became the Chief Minister there with Ms Jayalalitha as his special friend. Jayalalitha is playing ‘We Tamils’ with Lanka Tamils to help apply balm on the Caste Issues of Tamil Nadu and get special attention from the west plus approval from her vote bank in TN.
* The Prabakaran MGR connection is shown in this You Tube video, with the two of them together. Both are now gone, but the connection is there through Ms Jayalalitha who is now Chief Minister.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBmgPVokPUM&feature=related
* Northern Tamils are more connected culturally to Tamil Nadu than to the rest of Sri Lanka. Though they are people who fled Tamil Nadu due to Caste Issues/poverty & suffered under P’karan, but are now ‘needed’ to play with Tamil Nadu politics via the TNA. They listen to the TNA as TNA is the culture headed political party for ‘We Tamils’. They also know that Development will come to the North anyway as GoSL wants to develop the whole of Lanka.
* At the end of the day some time in the future, Northern Tamils will find that their bread & butter really comes from Sri Lanka, and not from Tamil Nadu. They will also find that their personal happiness will come only from within themselves, when they act with truth & integrity toward themselves and toward the land that nurtures them.