WHAT DOES PEACE AND UNITY IN SRI LANKA (CEYLON) MEAN TO ME?RESEARCH ANALYST’S OPEN LETTER SENT TO THE FORUM BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Posted on April 11th, 2012

Gaya N Siva CSW ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Community Services Worker

In 2011 I wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ invited by several leading professors in conflict studies to be part of a forum as an analyst for several research projects and was laterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ nominated and selected as a moderator for theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Open Strategic forum focused on ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-UN hindering Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s peace, stability, reconciliation and Related Current African ExperienceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ which I accepted with much appreciation as I would get an insight into understanding the current and past situation from various view points. This was organized by the Canadian South Asians for Peace and unity Forum which is made up of South Asian and African Academics, AlumniƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s and Students. This forum focused on the UN resolution against Sri Lanka and a way forward.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Putting a resolution at this stage against the country was seen as an insult to the peace and reconciliation efforts inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a post conflict era. This would lead to more segregation from certain sections ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Global ThamilƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ DiasporaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who wouldƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ demand for a sovereign ThamilƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ state in Sri Lanka,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and go on toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ pressure the government of Tamil Nadu in IndiaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ requesting theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ U.N to create yet another conflict disturbing the peace and prosperity of Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Yes, I do admit it was a bloodyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ post colonial conflictƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and thousands of people from all sides of the Sri LankanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ population lost their lives and their livelihood. It is up to us the young generation of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Face BookƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ era,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that consists of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri LankanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ community living in and outside of the country, of all ethnic groups of the island the;ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslims, Malays and Burghers to come together in ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-peace, unity and one loveƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and take aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ strategic, genuine and an open-mindedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ stand for what happened during theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ long thirty years and bring a common middle ground for all sides to co-exist without being stuck in a war path mentality.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  If this is done, peace can be restored for the families of the victims and healing may take place but some scars will still remain.

Working together in solidarity and getting help from other communities such as the African, South Asian communities, and other DiasporasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ from the west is progressive and vital however, it should not be limited to or just stop there as we must work hard to make in roads in to the ThamilƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ communityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in order toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ getƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ open just solutionsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for a progressiveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This way the peace efforts in Sri Lanka would come together slowly in time while the SL GovernmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ work on recommendations made andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ requestedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the LLRCƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Report (Submitted by Lessons Learnt Reconciliation Commission).

My experience beingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ one of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ moderatorƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s atƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ this forum was a positiveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ eye-brow raisingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ one, why?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ because for the first time I saw structured open dialogue without control or restrictions, evenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ non-invitees were given a chanceƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to speak their mind in ThamilƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ language of their choice, adding to efforts made by the participants and the audience members, stating solutions and suggestions to heal the country and bringing it to a better standing.

There were productiveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ examples shown by aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ federal party candidateƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who was one of the many guest speakers at the event and she spoke about herƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ recentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ visit to SriƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Lanka in 2011 highlighting SLƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ governmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s progressive efforts for reconciliationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and Sri LankanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ DiasporaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s effort to rebuild the nation. Now time has come and this is our time to rise and shine to put the solidarity movement together and rebuild our motherland as the beautiful pearl of the IndianƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Ocean and give it the due respect it alwaysƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ commended since the time ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ourƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ islandsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ancient civilization.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I must make one thing clear, the forum consisted of many organizations; young and old, left and right, idealist and realists, professionals and loosely associated but they all worked independently from one another in the Canadian Sri Lankan community without any influence from pro external forces ending myths and separating fact from fiction that is aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ necessity in the information age for transparency.

What really amazed me is as to how the community banded together during a problematic time for post colonial Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The forum allowed the due space for all of them to come together with positive, neutral and even very negative attitudes to create a greater understanding for sense of community and to rebuild the nation and a strategic way forward for everyone.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  We as a ThamilƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Diaspora too must get-together and work alongsideƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ all other Sri LankanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ethnic groups and think outside of the box for a conflict free peaceful nation for the future generations and justify our concerns the correct way.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  We must not take shortcuts andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ be revengefulƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and betray our sisters and brothers by enforcing external agendas to a country that has gone through a Tsunami and several bitter conflicts all in a tiny land onceƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ known as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-CeylonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ true shining example of aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ tiny jewelƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ model colonyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of the than Mighty British empire.

IƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ want to sayƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ loud and clear that, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-way too much blood of generationsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ has been spilled on this tiny island due to a post colonial conflict that was enforced on us that could have beenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ avoided if the generation of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ yesteryear had the right modest mindset and the moderate attitude without the pride and importedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ BritishƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ planter class identity and egosƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  We should really acknowledge this as humans and get rid of the term ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-otherƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and be identifiedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-oneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This open letter isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ my last resort andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ only way I can express my ideas and it is the very freedom of expression the civil rights movement fought for inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the 1960ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚²s.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  All I ask in return is that people respect that andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ not insult the very foundation ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ how that ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ freedom was found because it is time that everyone wake up and realize that the new generation do not want war or conflicts but only peace, unity and love.

 

So therefore what I want to say in closingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  with natural tears and deep sorrow toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the ForumƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ BoardƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and friends is that,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚I should not be accused or get labelled with titlesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for speaking my mind, because it isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ something which I intend on doing for the future.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I rather lead by example than be a follower inside a prison that is heavilyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ controlled byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ jail guards and its time that after all these yearsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I set my self free and breakout as an independent soul as I meanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ no harm to my dear family that gave me life and close friends who always stood by me at all cost, to all of them I am grateful andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I dedicate this letter and hope that they really understand the true passionate context of my freedom of expressionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I end with this thought,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚we need better solutions and we needƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it nowƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ before itƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s too late forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ everyone because everyone from this paradise islandƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is the same,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ one ethnic group is no different fromƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the otherƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ because only aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ minor language barriers, religious beliefs and partisan tiesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ holds us back and the time has come for all of us toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ be identified as one with a true patriotic national identity.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  So letƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s work together and listen to all the voices inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the DiasporaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and I request the board to take my open letterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ seriously at the next event before the forum focus is changed toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a differentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ State inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ conflict riddenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ South AsiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  To my Thamil people I want toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ say, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-please learn from the past and donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t let it happen to you twice, we shall overcome only than willƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ peace and unity willƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ mean anything toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ meƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-.

Gaya ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ N ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Siva ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Community Social Service Worker (Toronto, Canada)

2 Responses to “WHAT DOES PEACE AND UNITY IN SRI LANKA (CEYLON) MEAN TO ME?RESEARCH ANALYST’S OPEN LETTER SENT TO THE FORUM BOARD OF DIRECTORS:”

  1. weeralanka Says:

    Thanks Gaya for your genuine efforts. For the benefit or to educate all the Sri Lankans living in and out of Sri Lanka, can you list all the issues/grievances that only the ethnic tamils have in Sri Lanka. To my knowledge there is none.
    Tamil Diaspora should know that they have a bigger Elam, and that is the whole of Srilanka, where they can live any where in the island without any restrictions. In a way they have more rights than the Sinhala majority. Only thing they (some of the Tamils who asking for a separate state) don’t know is, how to live in harmony with others.

  2. Gaya02 Says:

    Hi Weeralanka

    Thank you for your feedback and comment,it is time for everyone to come together and work towards a country, that is peaceful and united.

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