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Featured Article: The international community must act impartially!

Thursday, 28 June 2007

The views expressed by the S.P.Thamilselvan, the LTTE’s Political Wing leader echoes the view point of the Tami people in totality. Lankan Tamils struggled on the lines of non- violence for 30 long years demanding their just rights to live with honour.

They fought against all forms of oppressions against them through democratic struggles. But, their legitimate democratic struggles were suppressed with the might of the government and with abominable force.

The Sinhala leadership did not display a sense of magnanimity. They did not have a political vision. They failed to approach the problems of the Tamils with open mind or with a sense of humanitarianism.

It was in this background that the Tamils were driven to the extent of taking up arms to safe guard their entity as a nation, to protect their Tamil homeland and their right to life.

Tamils are not war mongers. They did nit resort to violent struggle on their own accord. They were, in fact, driven to the miserable situation, where they had no option other than taking up arms.

It must be noted that even at this late stage, even after they have lost several lives and even after they have faced several disasters, the Tamils are prepared to extend fullest cooperation to peace talks and peace efforts to find a fair solution to the ethnic problem.

The unfortunate situation is that the rulers have ruined all opportunities for peace and are interested in appeasing the Sinhala Buddhist extreme forces in the South for political opportunism.

Violence and human rights violations are unleashed on innocent Tamil people with the view to ethnic cleansing by the authorities. But, the international community is insensitive to the sufferings of the Tamil people. It does not appear that they are genuinely interested in devising any strategies to deal with the situation meaningfully.

S.P.Thamilselvan states that the Tamils are unable to understand why certain countries provide the Lankan government with foreign aid and help them to pursue their military operations, while most of the countries are exerting pressure on Sri Lanka to find a political solution.

The question that the Tamils pose to these countries is nothing but this: “ Why are you all providing Sri Lankan government with military help and financial aid and abetting indirectly to unleash violence human rights violations on the Tamils through military operations, while preaching that you are supporting a political solution through peaceful means?.”

The national problem can be resolved only if international community acts impartially!

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

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Jay said:

Let us take a rational look at the conflict - The tamils are demanding for their legitimate rights and the right to life in their own territory, where they wish to determine their fate, their destiny. And. practically every Singhalese government that came to power agreed the tamils have been marginalised and have been denied their rights. Then, why didn't the governments correct the disparity and treat all races equal!

Before the armed confrontation, the Tamils have long demanded for their rights which the Singhalese for whatever reasons, did not respond or pay heed. Keeping all the country's wealth and power to themselves or fear that the tamils will excel economically are thought to be the main reasons for denial of rights. Religions or religious issues does not appear to be the reason as there is not much of a difference in their way of life, nevetheless, the Singhalese religious leaders were also reluctant to place the tamils on an equal footing. So it appears more like a race related issue rather than a religous one.

The tamil demands which started as a non violent struggle due to neglect and suppression by the successive singhalese governments and having left with no options took an ugly turn when the Tamils took to arms to fight for their right to life. And in spite of the Singhalese leaders acknowledging the fact that the tamils have been marginalised, no one government put forward a crdible package of self deloution of power for the tamils in their homland.

In the absence of any concrete just solution, the CFA was born initiated by international peace keepers with the blessing of the international community. The parties in conflict too agreed and based on understanding, the will to correct discrepancies and shortfalls and promises, agreements were made, endorsed and signed by both parties witnessed by international peace keepers. The UN, the western powers, Japan, India and the rest of the world gave their blessing. Things were progressing well and it is at his juncture, the Srilanakan government under the current leadership decided to break their pledges and promises which had rendered the CFA ineffective. The government then openly declared they will break promises and agreements as and when they like. And when the peace brokers and the international community persuaded them to go back to the negotiating table, they unleashed the terror and went on rampage killing of innocent tamils and destroying their livelihood.

From then, the government had been branded as not fit to rule not only by international forces but also by the oppoition including dissidents within their own administration. Question is why did they do it? While it is clear that the current leadership has no vision and lost direction, the only possible reason appear to be the Singhalese fear that according the tamils the rights will make tamils economically prosperous and this is viewed as a set-back to the singhalese. Is this fair and justifiable!

2007-06-29 06:18:05

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