News Feature: Sri Lanka's nightmare

Tuesday, 05 December 2006

The Tamil Tigers unquestionably are the deadly elements of Sri Lankan society. However, the birth of the Tamil Tigers has roots in Sri Lanka's history. They are the by product of decades-old failed politics and policies of the Sinhalese political class.

There was not an overnight decision among the ordinary Tamils to approve the agendas of the Tamil Tigers. The failure of the Sri Lankan polity to meet the demands of the Tamil moderates was a key foundation for the origin of Tamil extremism in Sri Lanka. One needs to realize that successive governments since 1956, controlled by the Sinhalese, failed to engage the Tamil moderates such as the Federal Party, which sought a comprehensive solution without jeopardizing the unity of Sri Lanka.

However, Sinhalese collective, competitive chauvinism turned a blind eye to the Tamil moderates. Sadly, the choice of the Sinhala political class to use violence effectively damaged the Tamil trust in the political system and encouraged some Tamils to adopt violence. Ranil Wickramasinghe, a former premier of Sri Lanka, echoed this truth during his visit to the United States. He rightly pointed out that "the Tamils tried peaceful protest, which soon degenerated into violence. With the underlying grievances being unattended, the stage was set for terrorist groups to emerge" ("Our Approach for a Better Tomorrow Free From Terrorism," Daily News, July 25, 2002). Separation may not be a desirable solution for the ethnic civil war that killed more than 75,000 people out of the island's 19 million. It may trigger further instability.

However, when a particular community is continuously denied its rights, there must be a solution to arrest an unhealthy political situation and give justice to the marginalized. The desire for partition could be challenged if the ruling elites show real willingness to act beyond the ethnic emotions and a commitment to sharing power with the minorities. This likely would undermine the agendas of the separatist movements, provided there is domestic and international political willingness to implement the agreement.

The demand of separation becomes strong when a power-sharing arrangement is not possible. The world recognizes that if the people do not want to cohabit in the same polity, partition should not be neglected automatically as a solution. This might be one way to manage the Tamils' demands for political space since 1977. However, partition would not win the blessings of the global community. New Delhi and Washington, particularly, would refuse to go along with it for reasons best known to them. If the global community thinks partition is not desirable, it needs to exert tough leverage on the Sri Lankan ruling elites to improve the human rights of the minorities by giving political space for a power-sharing democracy. Sri Lanka will continue to be home to deadly but motivated Tamil suicide bombers if there are no outside pressures.

A.R.M. IMTIYAZ
Department of Political Science
Temple University
Philadelphia
washtimes.com

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Neil Armstrong said:

There are ample examples of partition to resolve inter-ethnic disputes in recent history. The most famous example in recent history was the UN-resolution in November 1947 to partition Palestine into Israel and Jordan. This was finally achieved in Israel's War of Independence ending in 1949.

Here are a few other examples of partition to solve problems:

Singapore from Malaya
Eritrea from Ethiopia
East Timor from Indonesia
Montenegro from Serbia
Kosovo from Serbia (in progress now)

Partitioning of Sinhala Sri Lanka from Tamil Eelam is long overdue and the international community should dispassionately endorse this partition because this is the only way to bring peace and stability to the Indian Ocean.

2006-12-05 19:09:23

Colombo said:

Hello Neil,
There also ample example of multi ethnic cultures living in Harmony under majortiy custure dominating.

Chinnese in Malaysia
Muslims in Tamil Nadu,
French in English dominated Canada
Sweedish in Finland
Red Indians in America

All this cases minority respects the country ahead on ethinic origin. THey do not claim homelands , but they claimed their human rights.

What went wrong in SL, from the very beginning starting from Chelva, Tamils asked for homeland , not for their rights. So there was no solution possible.

If we partition SL it will be like Isreal - Palastine, there will be never ending war. Blood shed.

It's still not too late to learn to live together. Specially after GoSl liberate Tamils from Ltte Iron fist.

2006-12-05 20:24:24

Eashan said:

Hello mr.colombo,

We are not argueing that minorities cannot live in harmony with the majority. But in the countries you listed above, can you quote any example of state-sponsored pogroms/riots, mass-killing/dissapearences, discriminations bothe in Education and Employment, burning down of treasures like our library. Everything has been taking place only in Ceylon. I can relate this to the atrocities committed aginst Jews during democractly elected hitler's time. Do you know why Jews were targeted ? because they were hardworkers and rich. The same is true as far as Tamils are concerned in Ceylon. Hence, separate Tamil Eelam is the only solution.

2006-12-05 20:48:15

Jay Jay said:

Hello Colombo,

There are Chinese in all aspects of Malasian life, Muslims in all aspects of Tamil Nadu life and so on.

How many Tamils would you say have been in the Army, Navy and Air Force of SL, since independance.

There are French in Canada and as a matter of fact they are in the majority in Quebec.

THEY ARE ALLOWED TO HOLD A REFERENDUM IN QUEBEC DEMANDING SEPARATION AND UPTO NOW THEY HAVE VOTED AGAINST IT. YOUR CONSTITUTION BANS SUCH REFERENDUMS. IF YOU ARE SO CONFIDENT THAT THE TAMIL MASSES ARE IN THE CLUTCHES OF THE LTTE, WHY NOT TEST THE NOTION OF A REFERENDUM? IF YOUR VIEWS ARE CORRECT THEN THE TAMILS WILL WANT TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO.

HOW MANY OF THESE MAJORITY COMMUNITIES YOU MENTION BOMB SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND HOSPITALS OF THOSE MINORITY COMMUNITIES? CAN YOU IMAGINE THE FRENCH SPEAKERS IN CANADA PUNISHED THROUGH AN ECONOMIC EMBARGO AND STARVED IN TO SUBMISSION?

Atrocities is in the psyche of the SL armed forces. It is a liberty to compare SL to other countries.

Say Tamil Eelam arrives; How many Tamils do you think will want to land in Colombo?

2006-12-05 22:05:19

Colombo said:

Jay Jay, I think at least 2 Tamils want to stay in colombo ; Karuna & Douglas :-)
Well truth is I belive many would like to stay as Colombo is their homeland & they have been living in Colomob for decades. But I afraidthey will be forced to move to Eelam -as there is no point of living as second class citizen when you have own country.

Eashan,
You said before that in India every body live with equal rights.
Read the BBC today: The brutal killing of a family from the lower castes - known as Dalits - in India's western state of Maharashtra has revived the community's demand to be treated as equals in a society that has labelled them as outcasts.

That is there in many places in India.
That's what will happen to our dear eastern friends in liberated Tamil eelam.

But do not worry, we will protect them. you might get eelam in North. But you never will get East. As it's tradional homeland for Poor: Sihaleese, Muslims & Tamils.

I have first hand expereince how Jafna Tamils treats low caste Tamils. So no denial on that.

2006-12-06 02:27:06

Colombo said:

Addtion to previous comment , why Tamils live in Colombo as transit point , why not TamilNadu.

Do you think your motherland will welcome you & treat you nice. Go and visit refuge camps. They are no better than what we have in Vaharai ( only fireworks are missing).
Vaiko , Karunanidhi & all using you to stimulate voters & get into power. They are happy we have ethnic problem. They also do not mind having Eelam. so they can have holiday in Neelaveli , their colony. Of course Praba will not dance into their beat. But once Praba goes , once democracy in Eelam, once pliticians are in power , you are in more mess & under influence of Tamilnadu motherland.

2006-12-06 02:44:12

A Well Wisher said:

Colombo cited examples of a few countries of multiethnic cultures living in harmony under majority culture dominating. Yes, it is true the the Jaffna Tamils were able to live in harmony in countries like, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore , Malaysia, etc. And more, they were not only able to live harmoniously with the other races in these countries but also made great strides in the political, economical and social fields with their great contributions in socio-economic terms and they also enjoy a great deal of freedom, prosperity in these countries. They are able to assimilte with other cultures, mix and mingle freely and are able to adapt themselves to the values and further more these governments also encouraged them to promote their own culture as well.

Realising the contributions, the ability, the skill and talents of the Jaffna Tamils, these countries saw them as growth promoters and gave them due recognition, provided opportunities to them and even made them partners in main stream politics. Therefore one can see these countries advocated a fair policy 'everybody has a place in the sun' and towed this line to enable everyone irrespective of race or colour to be treated with dignity and respect.

The burning question is why are the Jaffna Tamils NOT given the rights in their own land by the dominant Singhalese governments! Why are the Jaffna Tamils been treated NOT as equals in Silanka! Why are the Jaffna Tamils denied of everything - their rights, the opprotunities! Why cannot the Jaffna Tamils decide own their fate in the region dominated by them! When the Jaffna Tamils can work and co-exist with communities in other nations and prosper well, why is this NOT happening in their mother land.

Does it not appear that there is something amiss here, something NOT right here. Why, why, why!!! Colombo should realise that while the Jaffna Tamils are denied of everything in their own land, the governments in the countries provided the platforms, the facilities, opportunities and encouragement for them to progress in their lives. The opportunities were provided not only for the Jaffna Tamils but for all other races as these governments did not want to see any particular race left behind.

This does NOT happen in Srilanka. The Srilanakan governments have all along been very selfish and do not share politics, power or wealth with the Tamils. They created the imbalance. They are the guilty party to the conflict and the whole situation.

Now Colombo, do you see the problem.

2006-12-06 07:11:22

Colombo said:

Dear Well wisher,
the Jaffna Tamils ( also Sinhaleese) were able to live in harmony in countries like, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore , Malaysia, etc. Not because those goverments share politics, power or wealth with with all other races. Because those goverments share politics, power & wealth with all people live in their contries. We do not go & ask for rights for Tamils in theose countries. We absorbed into their system & respect those countries. We did not ask them to have Tamil as official language. We learn their language. In Germany we very happily learn german, In France we happily learn Frence. But in SL we need everything to be done in Tamil. This is racism from Tamils. They like to wash white people's ass. But they do not know how to live together with your asian blood relatives.

Of course for sinhaleese dominated governements, never created system where all people can have equal access to power & wealth. It's true for Tamils & Sinhaleese. I fully agree we need to change the system. for better of all people living in SL. That's what we tried to do with Pathmanabah. Revolution to create better Sri Lanka for all of us. PolPot Praba & some racist Tamils do not need it. They killed all Tamils who would create better SL for all communities. So They can have own eelam. It feels always good to have own compared to sharing something. That's why you all blindly motivated for eelam.
Sorry now we are in this mess, faults of both sinhaseese leaders greedy politics & Praba's racist politics. I agree it's difficult get out of this mess.

It might work that we seperated and try to liberate own countries from greedy leaders.
We both have to scarifies lot of lives for that.
Sri Lankan Army ( after coming back from EElam ) will have no work & be working as paramillitaries to crush any democratic movements in Sinhallese SL.

LTTE Tigers , which use to live with power & crushing any oppononents will continoue their dictatorship rule in Eelam. We both have to shed lot of lives to correct systems in both countries. But that's we have to do & let's face it

2006-12-06 09:48:04

Eashan said:

Hello mr.colombo,

you are trying to divide the Tamils and rule. Tamils are clever (except traitors like karuna and douglas) and you can't simply fool around them. In Tamil Eelam, there is no caste system or geographical-based divisioning. Under the grace of LTTE, all citizens of Tamil Eeelam are treated equal. I am sure that karuna, who is now under house-arrest by GoSL, is weeping for his wrong-doing. He was considered as the second in command in LTTE - now he is treated like a dog even by sinhalese. Don't shed a crocodile tears for our Eastern brothers and sisters, as they are smart enough to know as to how many youths are killed everyday by GoSL and its stupid forces. You stupid GoSL, don't play with the lives of innocent Tamil children of Eastern Tamil Eelam, as you will face the consequence; I warn you.

2006-12-06 21:30:40

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