The freedom struggle of the Tamil people to live with honour and dignity has been branded as terrorism by the west including America. The south, which denies the Tamils their legitimate rights and aspirations, suppressed the non violent struggles of the Tamil people with the might of the state. It also oppresses the armed struggle of the Tamil people for freedom.

Having unleashed violence on the Tamil people, it brands the freedom struggle as ‘terrorism’.

While there is justice in the cause for which the Tamils have launched a freedom struggle, it is pertinent to find the root cause for this national crisis. It is appropriate to quote the words of Lt. General John F.Shuttler, Director of US Combined Forces, on the question of terrorism.

“It is from the society where the people are deprived of their fundamental rights and their franchise, where they are denied honour and dignity, that terrorism is born”

Although the freedom struggle of the Tamils, that has lasted for more than 6 decades, has a chequered history. It can be brought under two broad categories.

The moderate Tamils leaders who led the Tamil freedom struggle in the 50’s and the 60’s were fascinated by Gandhian philosophy. They led the Tamil freedom struggle along the non violent path. Their struggle was essentially a parliamentary struggle since they believed in Parliamentary democracy, traditions and struggle.

The mode of their struggle were hartal, disobedient movements, closure of shops, boycott and so on. These struggles demonstrated to the world justice in their cause for freedom struggle. At the same time, these struggles created a political awareness among the Tamil people and helped for the blossoming of a sense of Tamil nationalism.

That non violent freedom struggle led to the commitment among the Tamil people to seek self rule in their historic traditional homeland.

But the successive Sri Lankan governments oppressed the non violent struggle by all the force it could command and adversely affected the social, economic and cultural life of the Tamil people.

As the oppression by the government intensified, the frustrated Tamil youths opted for an armed struggle, since there was no other alternative before them to confront an oppressive government. In the early 70’s the armed struggle became more organized and created a volatile situation.

Therefore, Sinhala leadership must analyse the factors that led to the present turmoil, appreciate the justice in the cause that the Tamil people have been struggling for and come forward to offer their share in a spirit of compromise, justice and fair play. Then only can there be a negotiated settlement.

It is a futile exercise to harp on “terrorism” all the time without tracing the causes and resolving them.

An English translation of the Editorial in The Sudar Oli, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo

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