Sinhalese will raise both hands if asked to vote for elevating Tamil people
by Gomin Dayasri
Will you put up your hand to elevate the Tamil people or the Tamil politicians? Sinhalese will raise both hands with sincerity in favour of the Tamil people. Not merely raise hands; they will clap with both the hands in support.
Such is the bonhomie that prevails presently in Sinhalese electorates as they see flashes on the television screen, the helping hands of the security forces bringing the captive Tamil civilians to safety. They see the innocent helpless look on the faces of those Tamil civilians looking aged and haggard with years of toil and adversity under LTTE iron fist. Indeed among them are planted Tiger moles!
The time is right for the Sinhala leadership to fight for the legitimate grievances of the Tamil people-not the rights sought to benefit the Tamil politicians.
A 30 year war is sufficient for the lifetime of several generations. A vacuum exists in the Tamil leadership with the LTTE exterminating the democratic options available to their people. For 30 years an emerging youthful Tamil leadership could not surface unless they bowed in obedience to terrorists. It is a subjugated subdued suppressed community where on the political wave length a band of a few TNA outlaws roamed preaching the LTTE doctrine with armed protection from the state they hate They will come back to sow seeds of hatred to further disintegrate a fractured society.
There is Ananda Sangaree and Devanandan under heavy security capable of expressing themselves from Colombo but not from Jaffna. They are relics of the past having bypassed two generations becoming distant voices in the wilderness. It is a lost Tamil leadership speaking to an abandoned unseen audience as the terrorist forbade any nexus to the electorate. Tamil politicians had only the media as their amplifier through which they relayed their message to a filtered minuscule crowd that accessed the media.
Tamil politicians are greedy to extend their power bases to overwhelm and overpower the Tamil voters, just like their Sinhala counterparts. Prabhakaran made the TNA MP’s fiddlers in the basement to play in the Eelam orchestra and gave them the right to life and the will to live. They brought forth a set unknown to parliament and pulled the strings to make them gyrate to their tune. With the LTTE leadership fast dwindling, TNA will look towards the Diaspora, the voice and the cash across the seas.
In the Diaspora lives the embryo stacked in ice, hoping to take the Tamils in the hemisphere to seek a Dravidian Kingdom; for a race in search of a state. Yalpanam is a fertile field and they will search for a sophisticated poodle and not another megalomaniac like Prabhakaran with many deficiencies and complexes that brought shame to the movement and contributed to his own downfall.
A Diaspora living across frontiers is like an ameba, forever fragmenting and disintegrating with an array of colonels and no commander. The pioneer generation is rabidly nationalistic; the next under western influence will be less insular and parochial and will probably look to Jaffna as a tourist destination rather than a holy land. Their children see the world in a larger frame and are an unsustainable force to serve in the land of their fathers. Tamil leadership will have to be home grown.
The patriotic Sinhala majority fought within the weapons of democracy to discard the infamous Package, saw to the liquidation of the Equal Opportunities Bill, abandonment of the Sudu Nelum and Tawalama the anti war mind cleansing operations, rejection of the 2000 Constitutional amendment, dismantling of Tsunami Structures, jettisoning of Peace Talks process, de merging the North East and easing from the CFA. They gave muscle to the Security Forces on their forward march with inspiration and motivation. They brought forth a leadership that dared to take the terrorists, face on to liberate Sri Lanka.
They cannot continue to rest on their laurels but must instead build a unitary multi ethnic Sri Lanka for the coming generations. This war could never have been won if the people of the North rebelled while the war campaign was progressing. That was their tacit support to eliminate the terrorists. Terrorists had the support of the Colombians but not the Northerners. If the patriots liberated them, they in return extended their silent support to achieve it.
People admire the patriots who took them on the proper path and produced results. It is in them the public have trust and faith. They can carry Sinhala intelligentsia beyond the reach of the devalued politicians. The time has come for the patriotic forces to extend their frontiers to fight for the legitimate grievances of the Tamils to inculcate a truly Sri Lankan identity. Thereupon the Tamil people with their emerging political leadership can safeguard and advance the rights of an ethnic community. An integrated entrenched community will be less likely to seek disintegration.
If the patriotic leadership are possessed with the grit determination and courage to give leadership the sinhala majority will be more than prepared to alleviate the justifiable grievances of the minorities. Being gracious and magnanimous in the hour ofvictory will bring lasting results 20 years hence. The finest hour has arrived for the nationalistic leadership to display their commitment to the country by being in the forefront of the struggle to combine a divided nation where the minority rights are fulfilled and the majority rights are safeguarded.
In Sri Lanka, the level of intelligence and social consciousness has reached a plane where people are ahead of their leaders and preachers. People now dictate to the Leaders, if they care not to listen they are discarded-results in the recent elections reflected it no better than at Wennappuwa, Nattandiya and Chilaw when locals voted extending their faith in God and War, relegating a religious hierarchy to oblivion. Such a fate could await the Patriotic Fronts if they seek to swim against the tide.
There is a time for War and a time for Peace. After a successful completion of the war people yearn for peace and are in the zone to display goodwill.
16 Comments
So you are going to elevate the Tamils!
Mahinda informs ,he is unable to elevate the salary of government servants this year; increment cut.
This problems began due to the unequal sharing of the resources and the power.You lost the power to Tigers.Now you feel you have regained it.But Country has no resources.War has swallowed all.You are going down.While you had a good economy you neglected the Tamils.But in this situation,an ordinary person can say what you will do.We know how you behaved all these years.Even Tsunami help fund do not shared equally.
Sinhalese raise their hands or not, Every Tamils raises both hands in army's gun point.
You are a notorious communalist supports all the violations against Tamils.
you always prove it.
I believe even at this late stage a large naumber of the Tamil people will be
agreeable to a sustainable arrangement to live in peace, justice and equality with the Sinhala people. The notion of living on the magnaminity of the majority or under a climate of patronage outlined by Sarath Fonseka's ilk and
articulated even by progressive thinkers like Jayadeva Uyangoda will be totally
unacceptable. I believe in the Lankan context we should allow bygones be bygones and I hope other Tamils will do so too. This fear of the entire Tamil diaspora being anti-Sinhala is total rubbish. I know of many Tamils in the diaspora even today are invited to stay in the homes of their Sinhala friends on vacation and vice-versa. My family is just one example. I have written many a times that
the bonds between Sinhalese and Tamils still remain - although many Tamils like me suffered enormously in 1983 and thereafter. I have cited the valedictories written by Tamil friends on their Sinhalese comrades and vice-versa. The recent tribute by that fine gentleman Daya Perera, our HC in Ottawa to the late Wakeley Paul was touching considering Paul was - like many other Tamils and Sinhalese - falsely called a Tiger supporter by the Sinhala chauvinists. Paul came from the higher echelons of Colombo society and also had european blood in him. We must all be prepared to share part of the guilt to build a new society as both sides have suffered - irrespective of who fired the first shot.
Mr. Dayasiri should accept the position all Tamils are not
tigers. Furthermore, tigers are a by-product of pseudo Sinhala nationalism and the moment the latter is eliminated the former goes into obscurity.
If he really means what he writes above Gomin can now proceed to place before the Rajapakse Bros - on whom he and his colleagues in the Sinhala supremacist wing have much influence - that (1) Tamils in the North East are allowed to run their socio-political affairs (2) Sufficient funds are provided for the purpose and for the infra-structure development of the North East (3) Like in Bangladesh a Committee of non-political Tamil leaders be appointed to run the
affairs of this Committee together with some members of the TNA acceptable to the Govt (4)While the army remains in the North East the Sri Lankan Police
to secure their earlier primacy (5) The Police presence to represent the
ethnic balance of the Province (6) The proposed N-East Province empowered to receive development funds from the diaspora and the international community
under GoSL supervision (7) a time frame-set for the building up of roads, bridges, irrigation, hospitals, schools, places of religious worship, industrial development, port and civil airport development etc.,
Tamils eagerly look forward to Mr Dayasiri going ahead with these initial thoughts of a Sri Lankan who has not entirely lost his faith in Sinhala-tamil unity being re-born - although the wound is deep and unbearably painful.
ISS
Gomin Dayasri is in total contradiction with what his health Minister Nimal Sripala has stated in parliament that without India's major help they could not have won the war.
He also contradicts what the the majority of the Sinhalese propogandanist calim that more than 60 % of NE Tamils liven Sinhala South in harmony. Why did not he advocate that Sangaree and Douglas could have been fielded as candidates in these areas to carry out their political messages and the discourse. If Mano Ganeshan can do it, why Douglas and Sangaree could not do that way ?
Why Lakshaman Kadirgamar was not elected in a proper way in a Sinhalese constituency with substantial minorities?
They want their Tamil quislings from NE constituencies or from the South without standing in any constituency.
You can villify the Tamil Diaspora because of the fortunate Bush era doctorine. But Tamil Diaspora too will have it era one day. Because ultimately truth & Jutice will triumph.
The Author has got his facts mixed up. This problem came into existence following the actions of the Sinhala Nationalist, beginning with the ‘Sinhala Only Act’. Next came standardization of Examination results as a basis of admission to local Universities. The attacks on the Tamil Community in 1977 and 1983, which were orchestrated by the Governments of that time, the infamous burning of the Jaffna Library, Now culminating in the displacement and destruction of Tamil Habitat in the North East. To say that the Sinhalese will now raise both hands for Tamils is Grotesque to say the least.
The compassion felt by the writer on seeing the faces of the war victims is quite incredulous considering the fact that all this time GOSL was bombing these people to the ground accompanied to the cheers of the majority community. None spoke on their behalf and the few who did where assassinated and stifled. The justification of fighting terrorism, happen what may to innocent people is similar to the logic behind the bombing of Hiroshima by the US in the Second World War. In that case it was another nation whereas in this case these are our own people.
LTTE came into being due to the gross discrimination and attacks on the Tamil Community. We need to understand the reasons and afford them the opportunity to change. This means that we too must be prepared to change our stance on the issues that brought about this tragedy. Even as there are Sinhala moderates there are extremist who will certainly not allow the Tamils a chance to live with dignity and self respect. Overcoming these extreme forces is the duty of the majority community. Simply raising hands or clapping will not do.
*** Furthermore, tigers are a by-product of pseudo Sinhala nationalism and the moment the latter is eliminated the former goes into obscurity.***
Senguttavan,
Sinhala Nationalism is a by-product of TAMIL COMMUNALISM. Before Independance Tamils had a disproportionate amount of Political and finacial power. They had no intentions of being Equal to the Sinhalese.
Remember the 50-50 Proposal by GG Ponambalam? Tamil Communalists were working hard to set the seeds of Division because Equality was not their concern. Don't go blaming the entire mess we're in on the Sinhalese, your ancestors are just as guilty of causing these problems today. The sooner you can accept that , the sooner we can MOVE FORWARD.
And by the way...LTTE is a curse to Tamils, you know it, and I know it...they have brought you nothing but Misery and Destruction. Blame the Sri Lankan government all you want, but the reailty is when the LTTE are Destroyed more Tamils will breath a sigh of Relief than will weep like you do...
Sinhalese are no murderers except or a few persons engaged in the military industry. you guys are mindless killers and prabhakaran's war is justified by your killing instinct.
Another Apologist of the ongoing GENOCIDE
http://new.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=14771
Read the above link. It says it all!!
Mr. Gomin Dayasri! This is no joke
Sinhalese people need to stop apologizing to Tamils. We owe them nothing any more. They are just as responsible for their predicament as our ancestors. These Ingorant fools in the diaspora wave Tiger Flags and Pictures of Prabhakaran at rallies supposedly for Tamil Civilians, but in reality they are just supporting and condoning the slaughter of Tamils in Sri Lanka for their own Political Separatist Agenda. And then on top of that when Sinhalese question this we are labelled as RACISTS, .. . Enough already!
Ilaya Seran
Please keep in your mind that whatever solution you propose should be in a non-merged NE and withinn a unitory constitution.No body will give you a merger now.Stop dreaming.
This is plain nonsense. Throughout your career you and many of your ilk have only promoted Sinhala supremacism and consequent racism. Granted, that at least some of you and some really bigname hardline Sinhalese are attempting mellow and change for the better. That change did not come voluntarily, it is happening only because of the effects of the civil war finally causing the change. You are one of those spearheaded Sinhala supremacism, with what I like to call incestuous esoteric dialogue. Essentially, you constantly invent anti-Tamil diatribe, as you do even now to justify your position with an argument for Dravidian Kingdom. In my thirty year association with the Struggle, I have never heard it mentioned by a Tamil. But, supremacist Sinhalese like you have constantly been harping on Dravidian Kingdom to justify your murderous Sinhala supremacism.
Howard Debenham, former Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, clearly illustrates what the core issues are in his article that appeared at Transcurrents' this week section
http://transcurrents.com/tc/2009/03/little_hope_of_an_enduring_end.html
The murderous genocidal nature at the heart of the Sinhala political establishment, is acknowledged by him. He even goes to the extent of emphasisng that no lasting solution could be found, under the present climate to remain in a united Sri Lanka. And, what's more, if this is what the likes of JR had the audacity to tell foreign diplomats, what do you think you have been talking amongst yourself. JR is not the only one guilty of racist attitude towards Tamils. The entire Sinhala political establishment is guilty of it. I do not wish to be too harsh on you, when I know many of you, the so-called hardliners, are mellowing. But, mellowing means only beginning to acknowledge the problem. Developing political solutions to the problems is an entirely different proposition. But, more and more Sinhalese are realising it is in the Southern polity radical changes are required. There is even a suggestion that a new political force powerful enough would be required to bring about lasting to change in the politics of the south for better. That may be the way to go!
As for Tamils, they are gone. It would be extremely unwise to hang on to them. If the political and economic climates permit, it would be possible to come together under an 'island vision', in the future.
Gomin DayaSri and Devinda Fernando if you love your morther land Srilanka and wants it do well please realise that the poor quality of the politicians who were leading the country ( both UNP and SLFP ) and the failure to lead and serve the Southern masses with the right constitutional frame work ( although with overwhelming majority had the political will to change many times putting the minorities at a delibrate disadvantage ) the country is in this plight. sadly the South Asian politics lead by India is like that.
Please visit
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/416698/1/.html
"He said: "If you get capable people forming the next government, people who know what they have to do to make Singapore work, then I'm not worried. I'm not worried whether it's PAP or SDP or whatever government.
"But I am worried about the quality of people who get into power. Integrity (is) crucial, (and) ability, experience and a willingness to do what is necessary for the people, and not for yourself." LKY
Devinda,
Sinhala Nationalism of the 1930s during the time of Anagarika Dharmapala was against a number of factors – principally against the British. But to make it marketable he railed against the Malayalees and other Indians and to a lesser extent against Ceylon Tamils accusing they had more of their share in the professions and government service than the Sinhalese. But this was arguable because schools in the North turned out more English-educated than in the South. Here again there is a charge against the Tamils that this was a conspiracy of the British. The North had a good school
for every sq mile or so while it was something like one in a 20 sq mile in the South. It so happens the British Church missions came via the land route from South India (no planes, cars, lorries then) and more Missionary schools in the Jaffna area were founded. Later on moved they moved to the rest of the South. The short-sighted Sinhala reaction to this in 1956
was to under-rate English. What do we have now? Our youth going as slaves to the Arab countries
since they hardly know any English. Kerala, which had a lower level of English than ours till the 1950s, is taking all the clerical and white collar jobs. Classic case of cutting the nose to spite the face by our Sinhala leaders, won’t you agree?
Many, including I, have written on the 50-50 issue this requires no repetition. GGP proposed 50% not for the Tamils, as you and your ilk try to falsely portray. He put this forward to prevent a total submerging of all racial-religious minorities – Tamils, Muslims and,
my good friend, for Sinhala Christians too. If this went through then we would have surpassed Singapore. The whole world knows the latter feel as insecure and as 2nd class citizens as the Tamils now.
I have reminded you over and over against I am no LTTE supporter. I applauded for what they stood for in the beginning. The movement was hi-jacked by fascism and intolerance
Later and most Tamils, I repeat, most Tamils are opposed to this. Although you and your
Friends gain by suggesting “all LTTErs are Tamils and therefore all Tamils are LTTEers".
Suit yourself, dear boy, the world is looking at matters afresh.
PP,
Make no mistake about this. The Lankan Tamil people will settle for nothing less
That (1) a merged N-E Province – as it was from 1987 until Sarath Silva entered the political arena (2) doing away with the Unitary State (which is the call of many educated Sinhalese too) Your problem, my friend, is your Buddhist priest-hood who have hi-jacked the power of Parliament and who had made subservient to them the Government,
the armed forces and most of the Ministers and MPs. This is a Sinhala problem requiring an early Sinhala solution. It is the same cabal that was against the restoration of Citizenship to the Plantation Tamils for over 40 years and parity for Tamil as a
official language. Political parties were fearful of granting these because of the
Buddhist priesthood. The arrival of a foreign army and other compulsions made the
Priesthood relent on both. So it will be on the two issues I have listed here – sooner than later.
ISS
The author also wants a unitary constitution. Soulbury constituion, the 1972 contitution and the current one are all unitary. Why do you want this unitary character again. Do you want to continue further bloodshed? As far as Sri Lanka is concerned, unitary constitution is dead. There are two options only available to the Sinhalese government. They are either federal with two provinces merged or separate states.
Gomin Dayasri, if we say that everything you say is absolutely true etc. and clap and cheer at what you wrote, WILL YOU KINDLY DISAPPEAR?
There is enough confusion, distortions, lies without Gomini Dayasiri (and supporters) adding to the mess which only increases the suffering!