13 th amendment, the problem today not the solution
by Dr.Vickramabahu Karunaratne
After going through series of elaborate and far reaching discussions on united state of regions, federalism, internal self determination etc., etc., we have come back to the 13 th amendment.
13th Amendment
This is nothing more than one step forward and ten steps back! True, it was a step forward 20 years ago, when not even parity of languages considered seriously. The 13th amendment and associated changes, at least nominally, introduced parity of languages, autonomy to the Tamil homeland, and abrogation of statelessness. Of course nothing substantial happened to resolve the Tamil national problem, but introduction of all these concepts into the constitution is a victory that one must not underestimate.
The roots of the 13th amendment go back to the All Party Conference called by the late President Jayewardene. It is an all party conference (APC) to which all registered, non proscribed parties were invited.
I participated as a member of the new Sama Samaja party delegation. There were very powerful political figures in the assembly. Dr Colvin, Peter Keunaman, Vijaya , Kumar Ponnambalam, Amirthalingum and TULF leaders, Ashrof, Thondaman Sr., and many others.
The government was represented by, in addition to the President, Gamini, Lalith, Hameed and others. At that time I got opportunities to participate in common seminars where Gamini and Lalith too attended.
Our Position
I found them to be sharp and witty with wisdom to listen carefully to opposite opinion. They were able to counter my arguments from their own position with clear analytic statements. At least, I was able to clarify and consolidate my own ideas by debating with them.
In the assembly Hameed came out as a brilliant star, always guiding the assembly to the point of discussion. In that assembly we fought for two things.
Firstly, if the APC is seeking a political solution to the Tamil national problem then devolution should be based on nationality. Hence the Tamil homeland should be identified.
Secondly, that any draft document prepared by the APC, should be first presented to the representatives of the Tamil speaking people, including the militant armed organizations, before taking any further action.
JR and MR
JR was willing to consider these suggestions seriously but he was tied down by the very forces he represented. It may not be an overstatement to say that in the history of Sri Lanka, JR will have a special place comparable to that of Bismarck of Germany.
This man, an arch reactionary that ruthlessly put us behind bars, threw us out of jobs and threatened with death for no reason except for blatant class interest, in 1986 turned round to compromise with the working-class forces to discuss seriously to resolve the Tamil national problem.
Until 85 my party was banned, we were in hiding to escape death, few months later I was seated face to face with JR, my class enemy, discussing the way out for the Tamil speaking people!
Today the present President MR , who never bothered even to participate in the in the APC of President JR, after twenty years has barged into the APRC of Minister Tissa, screaming that JRs 13th amendment is the golden solution to Tamil grievances.
May be he believes that his masters at Indra- prasasthi will be happy to hear that, and continue to help his military answer to the Tamil national problem.
Whether one applies the uthpatha-thithi-banga rule of Buddha or the negation of the negation rule of Hegel, the inevitable truth is that the 13 th amendment has become today the problem, and not the solution.
In the past when he was in the parliament, President MR was considered by many to be a friend of the proletariat. Within two years he has become an arch reactionary Sinhala chauvinist.
May be Mahinda wants to recreate the Ramayana to become a modern day Aryan Rama? He expects the Hanuman of Indra-prasasthi to help him to annihilate the Dravidian army of Prabha, to install a sub ruler for the Tamil province. May be Minister Douglas is the modern Vibishana in waiting! But the sad truth is that the dream of the trio Mahinda, Champika and Wimal is a bigger myth than Ramayana.
No nation can be subjugated in modern times unless the oppressed people themselves abandon the wish for freedom, liberty and self rule. Gandhi, the saint of Indian independence said that few decades ago.
The Tamils are fighting a bloody battle against a military solution and at the same time hunger, fear and anarchy are taking over the country. While this misery is going on JVP leaders are waiting till Mahinda compromises with those who are demanding a political solution.
That will be the opening for them, not to fight against the misery and destitution, but to make use of such condition to establish the dictatorship of the chauvinist grave diggers.
EstaVez said,
January 22, 2008 @ 12:20 am
Another man who can identify trees for the woods.
This is reality succintly put. Dravidian Army won’t just go away without a big bang. MR would live to see the aftermath is another matter altogether.
Either way, JVP will be the winners as Ranil won’t take advantage of JVP double-talk now and switch to blaming MR later.
The civilians will pay with their purse and life all for nothing.
Another round of Peace talks in 2010 is already scheduled.
raf said,
January 22, 2008 @ 4:50 am
I have been hoping for peace in Sri Lanka for a long time. When the government convened the APC I was hopeful that something good will come out it. After deliberating for over a year it is shameful to propose a failed system called the 13th ammendment to the constitution. I agree with Dr.Vickramabahu Karunaratne that this will not work. How in the world can a system of goverment which failed in the eighties and cost the life of Prime Minister Rajiv Ghandhi and President Premadasa be successful today.
Unfortunately this bloody war will go on for many years to come.
rathakrishnan said,
January 22, 2008 @ 5:49 am
thank you former comrade and current ngo fund receiver for your comments. You better understand this war is not tamil peoples’ war. This is Pirabhkaran’s war.
Sen said,
January 22, 2008 @ 10:08 pm
I fully agree with Dr.Vickramabahu Karunaratne, a failed solution 20 years ago, is not going to solve the problem today. Although, I am not a supporter of LTTE, I failed to see the rational behind comment #3, rathakrishnan, is he vouching for Douglas to become the governor of either North or Eastern provincial councils, where these councils have not even got an authority to build a toilet. Even if LTTE is eliminated the problem of disenfranchised and discriminatory issues faced by Tamils will not go away.
Rajasinghe said,
January 24, 2008 @ 6:13 am
Mr Vickramabahu Karunaratne remains as he has always remained – a lone voice in the wilderness that no one gives two hoots about. That might sound harsh, but the truth of the matter is that he subscribes to a “philosophy” that has been thrown into the dustbin by the rest of the world long ago. Only in Sri Lanka do stooges continue to stick to it like glue.
krish said,
January 27, 2008 @ 7:55 pm
Dr.Vikramabahu.
Every Polititian is a friend of the prolitariat before comming to power.They also project an image of chauvanism depending on the ground situation.In Sri-Lanka the culture of the majority polititian has been to project them as a Chavunisit.Only then they can come to power.The polititians failed to realise that once the masses become psychopathic it takes a generation or two to change the mindset of the masses.This is also only possible with the correct leadership.
There was a time in the fifties Sinhalese pilgrims in bus loads travelled through the northern province to Nainathivu and vice versa to Katargama.
Where have we gone.
P.Subasi said,
January 28, 2008 @ 3:46 am
Look at the Bahu’s position he fought for in earlier APC. “Firstly, if the APC is seeking a political solution to the Tamil national problem then devolution should be based on nationality.”
What a crap Bahu talking about. Could you believe these guys were proposing
solutions based on nationality in this very small island?
Bahu does not want to see the people of this tiny island to live peacefully. He wants everything to be fragmented according to ‘nationality’ so that chaos will rule. He thinks that it would help his ‘revolution’ he is dreaming from his kindergarden days. What a failed guy.
Srilankans luckily understood his agenda and kept him out of any political power. Even after almost half a century of full time politics, all his supporters could be fit into a three wheeler.
G.S.Sethukavalar said,
January 28, 2008 @ 11:39 am
Reading your article, I wondered why Sri Lankans never found it in their wisdom to bring to power people like you.
On the economic front I am diametrically opposite to you. Yet I respect you for your consistent wise views on the ethnic issue.
With views like this, you are unlikely to get popular either amongst Tamils or Sinhalese but don’t give up on being a decent, right minded politician.
nimal said,
January 29, 2008 @ 7:51 pm
i agree with Dr’s view. Whether we accept or not there is a problem for Tamils . so, 13 amendment is not a solution. he correctly mentioned that we are going back. i think our politicians never like to share powers with minorities. that is why the island is suffering irrespective of ethnicity. first of all we should treat minorities as human beings rather than sheep. my personal opinion is that there is no minority politicians to support or voice for minorities. the reason is greedy on power. so, i fervently believe that the 13 amendment will not solve the problem instead it will aggravate the problem. so, i think the country will face the problem forever. it will be a curse to the future generation. lets pray to the god to save the country
Villa Anand said,
January 31, 2008 @ 3:46 pm
When is Nava Sama Samaaja Party going to split further and how many of you will share this vision of yours till the end? Your stand is idealistic and honest, but the world is not so. The one who said ?Political power grows through the barrel of the gun? is also a Marxist.
Both parties are going to test their strength. No one can stop it. International community doesn?t care. Lots of innocent people are going to die and it will be more Tamils. End of the year the economy will be in shambles. The leaders won?t care, but will claim they are Gamunus and Elaras. Government will claim that there are no Tamil problems, because there won?t be any Tamils or a Tamil voice. Tamil militancy will still remain even if the current leadership is not there and become a permanent threat. Hatred and mistrust within the races including the ordinary people will increase and be forever. Friends will become foes, unable to face each other due to anger or guilt. We will prove to the world that 2500 years of civilization has done nothing but led us to the same tribal behavior as that seen in Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, Bosnia etc. World War 1 & 2 is no exceptions
Karunapala said,
February 2, 2008 @ 6:44 pm
Oh my god! Dr Karunaratna, I honestly thought you left politics for good. I got it wrong – quite spectacularly. I remember the revoulion you launched with your buddy Vasu and we were eagerly waiting to see the promised socialism spanning across the globe, exactly the way Jews waiting for their Messaiah. If you want us to wait further, we will think again while keeping our capitalistic instincts at bay.
However, can I say something to you in a whisper, sir? If you put your engineering skills, rather than the enviable political skills into practise, you could have diverted all the rivers in the south towards north so that illustriously hard-working Tamil farmers could become the envy of the world. That is what other renowned ‘bahus’ did for the land they were born.