“Equality for Sri Lanka Tamil people†– India is making progress
Posted on February 21st, 2013
Asada M Erpini
The report dated 12 February that appeared in the local media that India ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”is making progress in its engagement with Sri Lanka to ensure “a life of peace, dignity and equality” for the Tamil minorityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And, it is apparently a statement made by the President of India.
Most Sri Lankans, 75% of whom belong to the Sinhala majority community, whereas the Tamils that everyone in India seems to be having sleepless nights about total a meagre 4% of the population, according to the latest census, should thank His Excellency for his concern about the citizens of another sovereign nation ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Sri Lanka. The sad fact is that the Sinhala people, too, are supposed to have come from the present day IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s West Bengal or Orissa, although this view has been contest by some. The unfortunate situation, though, is that the Sinhalas do not have anyone in India to talk on their behalf.
His Excellency has referred to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-resettling the 300,000 people displaced at the end of the three decades long war in May 2009ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. The fact that no one in India seems to have pointed out to His Excellency is that the 300,000, in fact, were mot displaced but rescued at the end of the war by the forever-maligned Sri Lanka armed forces from the clutches of a megalomaniac. The displacement of the civilians were not at all the work of the Sri Lanka armed forces but was the result of the actions of their own ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”saviourƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ who pushed them from the North and North West of Sri Lanka to the North East where he deservedly met his doom.
Many Sri Lankan Sinhalas would be eternally grateful to His Excellency if he extends at least a fraction of his concern that he has shown for the Tamils in Sri Lanka to them as well. After all, Prince Vijaya, who is credited with the founding of the Sinhala ethnic group in the country, according to some reports, is supposed to have come from ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Vanga DeseƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. The writer is tempted to think that Vanga Dese is todayƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Bangla Desh and some sections of Orissa, which were parts of the vast land mass from which the colonial rulers created one country named India.
A point that is also worth mentioning here is that there certainly is a need for equality among ethnic groups. When the British left Sri Lanka, half the schools in the country was in the Northern region and catered to the Tamils, and for many years since, the vast majority of the university entrants for Medicine, Dentistry and Engineering came from the schools in Jaffna. The Sinahalas (and the Muslims) have been crying for equality for a long, long period!
February 21st, 2013 at 7:56 pm
The Tamil community and the Sinhala community cannot have equal rights. By definition equal rights are attached to every man and woman, not to ethnic communities.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which Sri Lanka has ascribed, states [quote]
Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.[unquote]
Obviously it is clear equal rights and freedoms are awarded to human beings or to everyone, not to ethnic communities.
If equal rights are granted to the Tamil and Sinhala communities, it violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and leads to absurd situations. Sri Lanka already grants equal rights and freedoms to everyone and there is nothing more to be done in this regard.
Sri Lanka has also followed minority protection requirements as per the 1992 declaration and there is nothing wanting in this regard.
The US, UN, India or UNHRC have no case against Sri Lanka in imposing political demands. They must be ignored.
February 21st, 2013 at 9:21 pm
Every one has equal human rigths but not to sing the national anthem how he wants. What will happen if veddas want to sing it in vedibhasha?They have more rights than Tamils and muslims who were brought here recently by invaders
VEDDAS helped sinhalese in 1818 and 1848 to fight against British while others betrayed sinhalese
If they learn the language of the majority they can enjoy some more rights. Why dont they learn sinhala like they learned English to serve British u have to qualify yourself for your rights.
When Tamils and muslims go to U S A OR U K they try very hard to speak English like Englishmen because people laugh at their pronounciations. But they refuse to learn sinhala .
If 4% rejects 74% NO EQUAL RIGHTS
February 21st, 2013 at 10:10 pm
Dilrook,
In Australia, to prevent abuse, Aborigianl communnites living in rural areas do not have the right to drin alchohol. Even the prime minister of Australia can’t bring alchohol to these areas, while evryone getting drunk on Friday nights everywhere else.
To prevent abuse of children, adults and elderly, we need special rules to Tamil community. Otherwise, an innocent man like Prabhakaran will abuse everyone and start suicide bombing again.
It is the same in Israel. There is “equal rights”. On the other hand because of equal rights, Sri lanka has problems.
February 22nd, 2013 at 4:43 am
What they want is a mono ethnic society to satisfy their racist minds, not equity. They are after a piece of our valuable real estate!!!!
February 22nd, 2013 at 7:49 am
Read this latest news from yahoo Australia website
Sri Lankan boat people housed in University accused of sexually assaulting sleeping student!
“A Macquarie University student who lives on campus has been indecently assaulted in her bed by an intruder.
The attack has left her traumatised, and other female students living in fear.
While the intruder hasn’t been identified, they want asylum seekers moved out of their student accommodation.
…
“She was screaming at him to get out, she she fought back and chased him,” one friend said.
Police are investigating an indecent assault and have issued a description for a man aged 20 to 25. The man has dark skin, dark hair, is of slim build and was only wearing grey tracksuit pants. But the incident has sparked student complaints, with about up to 80 Sri Lankan refugees housed temporarily on campus.
The Federal Opposition says there are up to 10,000 asylum seekers waiting for approval to stay. It questions whether university’s are the right place. “That question about its appropriateness is not even asked by the Government,” Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said.””
– I wouldnt be surprised if the LTTE mafia has deliberately done this. All this is indirectly THANKS TO INDIA.
February 22nd, 2013 at 7:56 am
The Sinhalese, Tamils and Moors all trace their origins to India. The extent of veracity and the degree of Indian ancestry among the Sinhalese is yet to be proven. Nevertheless, despite their claims to Indian extraction, India ONLY cares about the Tamil community and Indian politicians are always expressing “concern” for the Islands Tamils.