Sri Lanka-New dawn and new independence
By: Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
The stage is set for the elimination of the LTTE in Sri Lanka. The likely decimation of the LTTE and concerns for the civilians held hostage by it in the 17 square kilometer war zone (supposed to have been the safe zone!) have become emotive issues for the Tamil populations within Sri Lanka, the Diaspora and the world at large. The inability of the International Community to demand the LTTE let go the civilians it is holding hostage as part of its survival tactics, is shameful and demonstrates a refusal to articulate the truth, in the face of overwhelming evidence. Diplomacy does not dictate the international community should take the side of blatant evil and falsehood.
The LTTE had over the years come to epitomize Tamil anger against real and perceived injustice in Sri Lanka and the hope for a just future in an independent Tamil Eelam. In the absence of credible and vibrant political formations espousing an alternate vision, due largely to LTTE violence and machinations, a large swath of Tamils are filled with gloom and forebodings of an impending disaster in Sri Lanka once the LTTE is defeated. There is a leadership vacuum among the Tamils and this is contributing to Tamil fears. Those positioning themselves as the alternate leadership lack credibility among the Tamils. The LTTE is continuing to exploit these feelings very efficiently through a vicious propaganda campaign based on falsehood and exaggerations unleashed in the media and in the streets of major western cities. This propaganda effort is the last straw the LTTE is holding onto to stay afloat in the deluge about to overwhelm it.
The impending defeat of the LTTE after a near thirty year struggle, I am sure has taught a majority of Sri Lankans many valuable lessons. We have gained our independence only now. The day the LTTE is finally and decisively defeated should be our real independence day. The independence we received from British colonial rule sixty one years ago was handed to us in a platter and we did not understand how valuable it was. We did not perceive that independence as something national, encompassing all citizens. We made use of the opportunity to promote our sectarian interests, rather than our national interests.
We have shed blood over our island in the past thirty years on the issue of how the Sinhalese and Tamils are to share the island and her bounty. The Sinhalese claimed the island as a whole belonged to them, whereas the Tamil claimed parts of the island belonged to them. Both were however united in their allegiance to either the whole or parts of the island. The war that is hopefully about to end has established that this island belongs to all of us, who are her citizens. We have finally proved our love for this island and our sense of belonging to her. This ultimately has been our battle for real independence and freedom from bigotry, racism and extremism. This is a new dawn for all the peoples of Sri Lanka and an opportunity to develop and emphasize our commonality in being Sri Lankans.
India struggled for several decades, united as a nation, to get her independence from Britain. The whole of India- north, south, east and west; across religious and linguistic boundaries- were united in their struggle against colonial rule. As a result the Indian identity came to the fore and has withstood the test of many fissiparous issues over the post-independence years. The pride of all Indians in their Indian-ness is something that we have to admire. Unfortunately, we have promoted our Sinhala-ness, Tamil-ness and Muslim-ness in the post-independence years over our Sri Lankan identity. The result was the civil war that is about to end after thirty long years of misery and mayhem.
Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese have lost many things in this war- life, limbs, property and prosperity- to an unacceptable extent. The Tamils have lost more. However, the Tamils have demonstrated a commitment to fight for their rights that surpassed their strength in numbers. The Tamil resistance was legitimate and is justifiable even today in the context of post-independence realities. However, the path along which it was taken by the militant groups, particularly the LTTE, was abominable and much lamentable. The cause was right, but the path was strewn with adharma, misjudgments, and missed opportunities. The ‘End justifies the means’ approach taken by the LTTE and other militant groups were bound to fail.
The Tamil militancy lost sight of its initial objective, namely the welfare and prosperity of the Tamil people, at a very early stage. Tamil lives became as expendable as that of those the LTTE considered its enemies. It should not have been a war against the Sinhala people, but a war to assure the rightful place of the Tamils under the sun in Sri Lanka. It is not the Sri Lankan armed forces that are about to defeat the LTTE, but the silent cry of many thousands of innocent Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims, who were the victims of its brutality and bestiality, which reached the high heavens! The Sri Lankan armed forces have been strengthened by a divine force beyond that of the weaponry in their possession. Similarly, the LTTE is about to be defeated because it had lost its moral force and had become the target of divine anger or karmic revenge. No amount of weaponry and propaganda will win the war for the LTTE, on account of the ‘Wrong Path’ along which it hijacked the legitimate resistance or struggle of the Tamils.
The lesson that has to be learnt is ‘Wrongs’ can not be righted by equally or worse ‘Wrong ‘reactions. The principle of ‘Ahimsa’ inherent in Jesus Christ’s ‘Turn the other cheek’ concept and Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance, stand vindicated in Sri Lanka today. The Sri Lankan government has to draw the ‘Correct’ conclusions from our 61 year history and make sure the impending defeat of the LTTE is a victory for the Tamils in particular and all Sri Lankans in general. This should be a win for our nation and not a win for the Sinhalese or the extremists among them. We are fortunate; the majority of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims have come through the darkest years in our recent history with our essential humanity intact and acutely aware that a new course for our nation has to be chartered.
The concerns of the Tamils at this stage should become the concerns of the government of Sri Lanka. The government of Sri Lanka and the Sinhala polity have to convince the Tamils that a new Sri Lanka, cleansed of a regrettable past is emerging, where all citizens irrespective of their linguistic, regional, religious and cultural affiliations will be treated equally and will receive equal protection. The Tamils and other minorities should be assured their lives, limb and property will be safe in Sri Lanka. The Tamils and other minorities should be assured their rights will be equal to that of any Sinhala citizen, irrespective of their numbers. Tamils and other minorities should be assured by both word and deed that existing constitutional provisions with regard to their language rights and fundamental human rights are sacrosanct and will be upheld at all times. There should not be any room for communal violence of any form in Sri Lanka, any more. There also should not be any room for anyone or any group to call the Tamils and other minorities, aliens, anymore.
Tamils (& Muslims) should also be assured that all efforts will be made to enable them to exercise tangible political power in the areas where they predominate and at the level of the central government. Platitudes will not suffice any longer. Tamil accusations that they have been the victims of Sinhala chicanery over the past sixty years should be laid to rest once and for all.
If the rule of law ; dispensation of justice in terms of fairness and speed; and due process take centre stage in Sri Lanka, and are respected by the high and low in society and the instruments of state handling such issues, most of the issues of concern to the Tamils will evaporate overnight. However, it should be emphasized these concerns are not unique to the Tamils. It is up to the government to have the inclination and the will to transform Sri Lanka into a state that abides by its laws and enforces them without fear or favour. The JVP insurrections and the Tamil militancy have contributed in large measure to the erosion of the rule of law in Sri Lanka. We have been ruled under emergency laws for long periods in our post-independence history. Impunity has become a way of life in Sri Lanka. These unfortunate developments have to be reversed once the LTTE is defeated. Democratic dissent and protest should be accepted as normal, a necessary safety valve and the voice that has to be heard and responded. Violence at any level or section of society should be promptly dealt within parameters of existing laws, which are judiciable.
Many of the grievances upon which the Tamil struggle was founded have become irrelevant today. Tamil is recognized as an official language in the Sri Lankan constitution and if provisions relating to it are fully implemented, there should not be any problems with regard to the use of Tamil in dealings with the government. There is a sincere effort being made to implement the constitutional and statutory provisions with regard to the Tamil language. All new recruits to the government services are required to have a working knowledge of Sinhala or Tamil as the other language, old recruits have to acquire sufficient proficiency in Sinhala or Tamil as a second language, Tamil is being taught to Sinhala school children and to monks in Pirivenas (Schools for Buddhist clergy) and concerted efforts are being made to recruit bilingual translators. The private sector works in the English language yet and currently employs a large number of Tamils. Tri-lingualism (Proficiency in Sinhala, Tamil and English) is being recognized as essential for Sri Lanka’s economic development and prosperity in the modern world. The efforts of Minister DEW Gunasekera in this regards should be appreciated and encouraged. This reverses the trend towards mono-lingualism that was seeded in 1956 and laid the foundations for the subsequent national turmoil.
If the Tamils are dissatisfied with the government supported educational system, private schools can be established under the Companies ordinance. Private universities can also be established under this ordinance. The liberalized economy also permits students to go abroad for their education. Further, when the 13th amendment is fully implemented, schools and universities will come fully under the purview of the provincial administration, permitting greater localized inputs towards excellence. The increase in number of government universities spread over the island with faculties for professional studies, has also increased the possibilities for a larger number of Tamil students to enroll.
The demand for government employment has precipitously declined among Tamils. The Tamils have forsaken the security they traditionally sought in government employment and embraced more adventurous avenues to make a living. This is a positive development in the thought processes of the Tamils and a clear break from the mind set of the past. The new found sense of adventure and available entrepreneurial skills should be exploited to develop agriculture, agro-industries and other industrial ventures in the north and east.
The open economy has eliminated the highly controlled and much abused licencing system for industries prevalent thirty years back. Any industry that meets the legal requirements can be established in the north and east easily, once peace returns to the island. Local industries utilizing human resources in the north and the east can be established with different levels of sophistication, permitting influx of Tamil Diaspora funds and skills. This will bring in its wake employment, infra-structure development and prosperity. The private sector operated health services have expanded rapidly in the island over the past decade or so, and there is no reason why this would not expand into the north and east. Every opportunity available in the rest of Sri Lanka will become available to the Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese of the north and East once this war is over and there is no impediment to this in the Sri Lankan system at present.
Tamils have demonstrated through this war, spear headed by the LTTE, they treasure their identity and their connections to the island. They have also demonstrated an enduring commitment to be a people who can hold their heads up in the island. Through the war they have demonstrated ingenuity, inventiveness, organizational abilities and tenacity that our nation as a whole can be proud. Although the war was lost, the Tamils have come through a baptism of fire. The positive aspects of the Tamil struggle should be recognized, respected and made use in our nation building effort. The Tamils are down, but not out. They are a resilient people. They will come out of their present misery faster, if a helping hand is extended by the government, the other peoples of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Diaspora. The extent of this help, will determine the success of the much needed national healing process. Tamils on the other hand must put memories of a bitter past in the back burner and reciprocate the ‘Forgive and forget’ attitude of the other communities and the government in Sri Lanka. The time has come for the Tamils to look forwards and cease looking backwards. Tamils have to accept the reality of being Tamils within a Sri Lankan identity.
However, the Tamils in the north and east may not have the political power that was sought through an independent Tamil Eelam by our politicians and militants. It was an exhilarating dream that has turned sour in reality for the Tamils. It was a dream that was unrealistic to begin with and became totally untenable with time. It became with time the dream of the hating, vengeful, self seeking and ill informed carpetbaggers! It had ceased to be the dream of the ordinary people in the north and east long ago. The unwillingness of the LTTE to seize several opportunities that came its way to secure greater political rights for the Tamils within the provincial council system or a suitable federal governance system, has ensured the Tamils have to work within the existing system, while negotiating with the government to enshrine the proposals being finalized by the All Party Conference (APC) chaired by Prof. Tissa Vithanage in the constitution. The rehabilitation, resettlement, re-building and development activities in the north and east can be easily carried out under the existing Provincial Council system in collaboration with the Central Government. Tamils have no alternative but to make the most of what is available, while working in tandem with the progressives in a national context to get greater powers devolved to the provinces.
The Tamil Diaspora is spread over seventy odd countries in the world and largely represent the best of Sri Lankan Tamils. They have not only acquired the skills needed to productively function in 21st century societies, but also the wealth that can be spared for not only the development of the north and east, but the whole of Sri Lanka. This Diaspora although largely supportive of the LTTE and its mission at present, can be weaned to contribute towards a new dawn in Sri Lanka, provided the government initiates progressive and confidence building measures to build bridges to the Tamils. Mechanisms to involve the Tamil Diaspora in the re-building and development of the north and east should be initiated by the government as an urgent priority and this should extend with time to cover the whole island. The government having recently involved sections of the Tamil Diaspora in a dialogue, should take this process forward vigorously and make gestures to empower those Diasporan Tamils who participated at considerable risk to their person and reputations, by dealing with issues that concern the Tamils at present with wisdom and compassion.
The immediate issue that concerns all Tamils is the fate of thousands of civilians entrapped in the so-called safety zone. The government should do everything in its power to ensure these civilians and those in the LTTE willing to come out, are brought out safely and treated with compassion and humanity, surpassing those demanded by international norms. Most of these trapped civilians are the poorest of the poor and come from the lowest rungs of Tamil society. They do not have the influence or where withal to buy their safe passage from the LTTE. The war is currently being fought with the lives of these poor and innocent people as pawns. This is a situation the LTTE and the Tamils yet supporting it should be ashamed of. Every life is precious and at this juncture every Tamil life is very precious. This should demonstrably become the overwhelming concern of the government in the face of the greatest sin the LTTE is committing.
We as a nation- Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and others- are on the threshold of a new dawn, after years of darkness. This is an opportunity to renew our independence and engage in a nation building process, recognizing our diversities as peoples. The voice of the rational, decent and compassionate majority in all communities should be heard above that of the extremists amongst us. The government headed by President Mahinda Rajapakse now within a whisker of winning the war, has a more difficult task ahead in winning the peace. President Rajapakse’s single minded approach to winning the war has produced unbelievable results. A similar approach to winning the peace will be his crowning glory. He has to harness the positive forces within the country, among all communities and in the Diaspora to win the peace and make our island the ‘Dhamma-Dwipa’ it was destined to be.
27 Comments
May I humbly ask which planet and which political ideology you are espousing? Is this a kind of neo-liberalism which speaks about "good classes" and "good castes" making up the Tamil diaspora as opposed to the rif-raf that are being decimated albeit in the service of these fat cats?
The author lost the value of his article in the first sentence.The author expects that the defeat of the LTTE is imminent while Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne in his article "It will be nonsense to think of eradicating the LTTE" thinks otherwise. LTTE made so many mistakes. They are also responsible for today's Tamils plight because of their boycott decision at the last presidential election. The author has so many errors in his article. In his view, implementation of Tamil langauge and 13th amendment in full will resolve the issue. I do not think so because aspirations of the Tamil people are entirely different. In my view, the LTTE may survive.
In what planet that you are expecting the Tamil Nation to go on their knees and beg the Sinhala Nation for our right to live after they slaughtered over 5000 in three months in a cold blooded murder.
There are people who will not sell their dignity even under extreme conditions
But there are people willing to sell there daughters and wifes to earn simple perks and position,
We are seeing both out there now and it must be the RUSSIAN VODKA that is clouding the minds of the second category.
Sorry to say that we didn't loose the war, we lost many battles and we will win the WAR.
Why do the Writer expect the Tamil Diaspora to help build the South when the South is hell bend of making the norteast wiped out from the planet earth.
Have we lost our souls, I don't think so, it is only few who enviseged this "LETS MAKE "PIECE" OUT OF THIS PEACE are RUSHING for the GOLD without realizing that this is only a Corroded iron rod ready to crumble.
Your position is false and hypocritical. If the LTTEs "end justifies the means" approach is not acceptable then how is it that the governments very same approach becomes laudable to you? The LTTE has done nothing even remotely resembling what the government has done and continues to do to the Tamils. If you think that people who engage in genocide will ever be able to build peace then you are mistaken. The future that they build will be far darker than anything that we have ever known before. It is only their prosecution, punishment and removal from power that will make if possible for peace to endure.
YES WE CAN!
A lot of self-appointed pundits including the author of this article seem to have got the notion that capturing the land-mass hitherto held by the rebels is the end of the rebellion. They could not be more erratic. This so called war itself and the equal intrangicence of the goverment would be the ideal breeding ground for more virulent form of terrorism in the days and years to come. If the government chooses to be so myopic with the accompaniment of the so called 'tom-tom' beating experts expressing similar sentiments - it is their funeral. What is so saddening to note is that the plight of the innocent civilians caught in the cross-fire is getting worse by the day, which further enhances my theory.
Pirabaharan and his outfit are paying the supreme price for disenfranchising the Tamils during the Presidential election bringing his counterpart terrorist into power for consideration of a pittance and assuming that he was clever, besides demonstrating that he had the power to stop the Tamils from voting. He rightfully deserves the battering he is now receiving.
Given the treatment meted out to the recently reformed rebels Pillayan, and mark my words, what is about to happen to Karuna against whom the slaughter of Budhdhist monks in Arunthalawa is marked, it is a foregone conclusion what will happen to them in due caourse, whatever left of the Tamil population may have different and difficult proposition to present.
In the meantime India who is a silent player helping both sides is having a gala time, a factor that the SL govt. has failed to analyze deeply.
This article represents the truth, which many tamils scared to speak out, being a tamil from up country I always supported legitamate struggelse of our brothers from North and east, but the truth is ltte is the stumbling block to find a peacefull solution. The defeat of the LTTE is birth of the peace for tamils, I salute Dr.Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
Finally some one is coming out of the closet.
Quote : We as a nation- Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and others- are on the threshold of a new dawn, after years of darkness.
Response : More darkness have been created now than before with Concentration camps.
You are contradicting your own position from your previous writings in the very same site.
It is Funny, people are trying to sell their souls to your Enemy, an enemy to the whole Tamil Nation.
Thank god, I thought the LTTE had wiped out all the Tamil Intellectuals because of the stupid articles and comments nearly all the Tamils were posting on this website. But after reading this article, I know that the Tamil Intellectual is not an extinct species, and they do exist.
Thank you for the intelligent and insightful article. this is a really good picture of the situation how it should be.
I don't have time to respond to this author, but CrazyOldManSL has said the things I wanted to say: "...It is only their prosecution, punishment and removal from power that will make it possible for peace to endure." Indeed. Any engagement by Tamil mainstream with the SL state is possible only after that. Mr. Rajasingham, by praising Mahinda Rajapaksa with nary a word of criticism about the horrendous abuses under his direction, you have shown your true colors and delegitimized yourself. When the wheels of justice turn to mete out justice for the murders of men like Lasantha, Prof. Raveendranath, Joseph Pararajasingham, Raviraj and countless innocent civilians, those like you allied to the Rajapaksas will also have to pay your price. And you are welcome to brand me an 'extremist.' Yes, I am an extremist when it comes to seeking justice for the voiceless people.
The writer askes us not to look back buut to look forward. However even a cursory look back tells us that the future in sinhala chauvinistic hands is nothing to feel optimistic about. I would like to be proved wrong, but I wont hold my breath.
.. " The government of Sri Lanka and the Sinhala polity have to convince the Tamils that all citizens will be treated equally and will receive equal protection. ..'
You are writing a protocol for moon landing. But what you have now is a paper rocket.
Dear Dr. Narendran,
I thought only Dr. Dayan Jayatileke and Dr. Rajiv Wijesinha were the only "Spin Doctors" the Island of Sri-Lanka have produced so far until read your article.
Sorry Dr., I have to include you with them for obvious reasons!
Take care.
Dr.
I would like to clarify a few points with you!
Did LTTE start the Tamil problem?
If it was not LTTE, then what is the appropriate punishment to those who created the situation conducive to the creation of LTTE?
Is there any country, including India, that openly supported Sri Lanka to go ahead with the war without asking for a political solution for the present situation?
Is it out of love that fifty thousands security forces are in Jaffna peninsula to look after 500000 Tamils since October 1995?
How many industries have flourished in Jaffna because of the elimination of the licencing system?
Do you know that Fonseka, who proudly and unashamedly claimed that Sri Lanka belonged to Sinhalese, is the present army commander of Sri Lanka?
Have you conveniently forgotten that pre-1947 India was partioned on the basis of religion?
Do you know that Bangladesh separated from Pakistan on the basis of Nationalism?
Do you know that mighty India finds it difficult to find a prime minister outside Nehru family? Do not tell me about Man Mohan Singh - mouth piece of Nehru family.
If one or two LTTE fellows kidnap your family members, say about five of your close family members, would you applaud me if I start firing my long range guns to kill your five family members and the one or two LTTE fellows?
Or would you still applaud me if I claim that there are only two people there and grudgingly send food for one fellow, considering the fact that the LTTE would not share the food with your family members?
Would you show your reply, if it were yes, to your kids?
Have Sinhalese ever elected a Tamil MP? ( Do not tell me the rubbish that Sir Pon Ramanathan was elected. That was among the so called educated Cylonese and Tamils marginally out numbered Sinhalese)
Have Tamils ever elected a Sinhalese?
Do you know, question about the rule of law, the Jaffna library, the pride and joy of Jaffna man, was burnt down by the guardians of law?
Do you know that no judges, including the chief justices, ever commented, forget about ruling, that Tamils were disadvantaged in having to study Tamil and Sinhala, while Sinhalese only had to study Sinhala?
Do you know what happened to the recommendation of the expert panel chaired by Prof. Tissa Vithanage, considering claim that "Many of the grievances upon which the Tamil struggle was founded have become irrelevant today".?
Do you think Pirabhahran has been such a smart person to keep Tamils against the benevolent Sinhalese like Mahinda, Fonsekas and Co for such a longtime on trivial issues?
Do you intend to fill the vacuvum of Tamil leadership created by LTTE?
My comment
Good luck with Mahinda, Fonsekas and Co
K.Easwaran
I heard that this man was one of the team of tamils paid $10,000.00 by Lanka Govt to participate in a meeting held by govt in Singapore and lanka to decide how to advance govt causes. Pls let him publish his address and the names and adresses of other participants so people can judge for themselves who and what they have been doing. If they do not have the courage,never mind- secret will be out soon- as always the secrets are !
sorry I have mistaken Jayadevan for this writer. Thanks for not adding to comments.
But what i have in my earlier comment is what the LTTE supporters dont know.
This is alo not a comment.
The doctor is trying to be on the good side of Mahinda with his writings, salivating that the LTTE will be defeted. So that he can be elevated as a tamil leader to guide and lead tamils. keep on dreaming!!!!! hehehehehe hahahahaha hohohohoho
Some body has written" Thank god, I thought the LTTE had wiped out all the Tamil Intellectuals because of the stupid articles and comments nearly all the Tamils were posting on this website. But after reading this article, I know that the Tamil Intellectual is not an extinct species, and they do exist."
Do you mean to suggest that doctors and engineers are intellectuals? If so you truly dont have a clue as to the meaning of intellectual. That has been the curse of the Tamils. These so called intellectuals should just stick to being technicians of the body or the car and not open their mouths on social and political subjects. The reason that Tamil people have ended up like this is because of these damn doctors and engineers. Being a doctor does not mean anything except attending to things like diareha, cancer etc...It does not mean that they recieve an education in social sciences or politics. You cant blame the Tamils because that is the only way a minority got access to power--but to call them intellectuals is stretching this a little too far!
Allo! Dr.Rajasingham Narendran!
Tamils have been evacuting from villages. towns and cities since 1948.
YOU MUST SIT DOWN AND READ THE HISTORY OF ETHNIC CONFLICT.
THE TAMIL PEOPLE CANNOT TRUST THE SINHALA LEADERS TO DEVOLVE ANY POLITIVAL POWER TO THE TAMILS
Bye, Bye
The writer forgets that equality in every sense of the word is the birthright of every tamil.
It is not a concession to be granted to them.
Dr Narendran
I take my hat off to you Sir, for exposing the true face of LTTE, one of the most ruthless terrorist organisations in the world which has been proscribed in India, US, UK, European Union, Canada and Australia. For those who do not wish to believe me, just click on the FBI link below and check for themselves what the US government thinks of LTTE.
http://www.fbi.gov/page2/jan08/tamil_tigers011008.html
Sure, the killers of Mr L Wicrematunge, Mr J Pararajasigham & Mr N Raviraj must be punished. But the LTTE is now paying the price for killing prominent tamils including Mr Lakshman Kadirgamar,Mr J Fernandopulle, Dr N Thiruchelvam, Mr A Amirthalingam, Mr K Loganathan, Mr Alfred Duraiappah, Sri Sabaratnam, Ms S Yogeswaran.
Many responses to Dr.Narendran's article are cheap shots have been made without reading the contents indepth or only after reading select sentences. Dr.Narendran's analysis is consistent with what he has been writing for several years now. Most comments indicate an inability to confront reality and are attempts to smear the messenger, instead of dealing with the message. I have known Dr.Narendran for several decades. He has been the victim of the Sri Lankan strife as much as any other Tamil and knows as much as anyone else what the tamil struggle is about.
What the Tamils who are yet committed to the LTTE and /or its cause, should realize is that after 30 years of civil war, the indigenous Tamil population in Sri Lanka has gone down from 14 % to 5 %. Almost 50% of this number now live outside the north and east. If a proper census istaken, we may not be able to hold onto even the 21 parliamentary seats we presently have. Do we need Eelam as a real estate to bury our future dead? Are we going to fight on and follow the failed mission of the LTTE, until our strength comes down to zero? What is more important now- the survival of a people, a culture and heritage or a obviously failed dream? Let us also be intelligent to differentiate facts from propaganda, whether it originates from the government or the LTTE.
Please wake up from your emotional slumber and face facts as they are today. As Dr.Narendran has stated every Tamil life is precious and if I am to re-phrase it, 'Every Tamil life including those of the LTTE cadres should be treasured at this moment in our history'. These lives should not be sacrificed for a failed dream.
Mr.Rajasingham Narendran, what you have written here will remain in record forever to speak about.
I commend this article as a positive and constructive approach to coming to terms with post conflict problems.
However, it is evident from responses received & attitude of the Tamil Diaspora that nothing has changed in the mentality of a large section of our people who prefer to throw mud at such proposals and continue the war until the entire Tamil community in the north and east is anahilated. This is worse than Hitler's final solution for the jews, it is commiting hara kiri as the Japs would say and commit self destruction for the sake of pride.
What we have endured is a senseless war not to rectify grievances of Tamils, but to carve out territory for an impossible dream and to saisfy the ambitions of a small group of people, at a huge cost of lives lost, billions of dollars wasted and about two thirds of the Tamil population left homeless etc. It is amazing that a large section of Tamil people have lost sight of what this war is about. Basically our people are plain stupid and would rather keep marching into the valley of death rather than look for a better future at least for the next generation.
The general attitude is to keep fighting fire with fire where nothing positive is achieved. As long as there is no change in such an attitude, we will not see the light of day or a prospect for our people to live in peace & harmony with majority of poeple as we did for several centuries in the past. None so blind as those who refuse to see!
This article, whatever connections the author may or may not have to the Sri Lankan Government, said something interesting:
-- Through the war they have demonstrated ingenuity, inventiveness, organizational abilities and tenacity that our nation as a whole can be proud. --
The "our nation" part could be replaced by "our Tamil nation." This is a war that the Tamil people have waged by themselves. It also proves that, left to their own devices, the Tamil people could build a very successful, prosperous nation, far more so than the one in the Southern part of the island. Let's be realistic: does anyone with a reasonable sense of mind believe that the fascist Mahinda, his former petrol pump attendant brother Gothabaya, and their gang of buffoon coolies - e.g. Champika, Wimal, Mervyn, etc. - can build a successful nation? Thanks to the Executive Presidency and other silly laws, these idiots can enjoy a lifetime in power. The point I am making is, even the SINHALA NATION will be better off with a Tamil Eelam in the North; I am sure that Tamil Eelam will set a good example for its Southern neighbor.
I am appalled to read some of the comments which clearly are personal abuse and inuendos. Some have given their views in a responsible way. The comment that the writer is a stooge of the government and has received financial rewards specifying a sum are very nauseating indeed.
When facts and opinions are presented it is always welcome to present responses in an objective manner without demeaning the writers to third grade level, unless substantive information is available in the hands of those commenting.
I find harpring with fraudulent statements have become a culture in both the Tamil and Sinhala communities. This is done to damage the reputation of independent writers and poltical activists.
Many objective and independent writers have faced this wrath within the past 25 years of the armed struggle and in the Tamil politics it has its roots with the Tamil Tiger support base.
I can adduce the personal attacks made against Dr Narendran comes from the same quaters which has the history of attacking individuals in this way. This must stop. Such responders must have forgotten that the factual instances of LTTE earning benefits from the government.
For instance Late Kittu's wedding took place in Galadari Hotel with much funfare and said to be attended by government officials. Then the Premadasa government despatching briefcases or suitcases full of currencies to Vanni. All these are facts and part of history.
To Dr. Rajasingham Narendran,
Doctor, did you not know these civilians have lived with the LTTE all these years. Instead of demanding this of the Tamils, why don’t you ask “Sir” Mahinda what business does the military have in Vanni, where people have lived in peace for so many years now along side the LTTE?
Please ask him to leave the Eelam Tamils alone, so the Tamil people can go about their business in their own land in their own way.