Political Solution : Empty Gesture and No Takers
by Batty Weerakoon
Air Force bunker-busters may hopefully get Prabhakaran if they have not got him already. But P dead or alive is not really the problem. It is the repeated failure of the south to offer to the Tamil community a feasible political solution to its civic and human rights issues that is in fact the besetting problem. In this context P is no more than a megalomaniac claiming the Tamil community as his exclusive turf. The Tamil community can in no way grin and bear this impossible situation, but as LTTE terror is principally directed at this very community it has no option but to sink into silence.
District Development Councils
In this situation of the Tamil community (TC hereafter) successive SL governments have played into LTTE hands. JRJ offered elected District Development Councils with chairmen nominated by him, no doubt a phoney measure as it proved to be, but the TC accepted it. It ended with the burning of the Jaffna public library and all Jaffna bazzars on a single night.
The next try out was devolution of political power through provincial councils. Though the scheme had been finalized by the All Party Conference summoned by JRJ in 1984 it was not implemented till the Indian intervention forced the enactment of the system through the 13th Amendment to the Constitution (1987). But it too failed in the North and the East when JRJ’s successor summarily got rid of the peace keeping / monitoring IPKF and told Chief Minister Vartharaja Perumal where to get off. With that the LTTE took over the NE region as its liberated zone. All communities in the region including the TC were thereafter placed at the mercy of the LTTE.
APC fiasco
The fiasco of the APC summoned by President MR only proves to the TC the truth of P’s “Heroes Day” (November 2006) observation that this august body was meant to fool the Tamil people. The APC was hamstrung from the start in that a committee nominated by the respective parties with a chairperson appointed by the President took over the thankless job of finding its way to a political solution. What the committee (APRC) has finally handed over to President MR is an interim measure with the declared goal being the 13th Amendment to the Constitution (1987).
This can be faulted at both ends. The Interim Measure is no more than JRJ’s District Development Council with the damning difference that it is unelected. The Council and its chairman are nominated by the President. And the final goal is the 13th Amendment which has already betrayed itself in the eyes of the TC. To say that the proposed exercise is an attempt to implement the 13th Amendment is a cynical misrepresentation. The interim measure is no more than the handing over of the northern council to Devananda and the eastern one to Karuna or Pillyan. It is bound to be a sitting duck to any terrorist movement as would require a dominant presence of the security forces. It can well be part of the military solution President MR has chosen for himself.
It cannot be imagined that the TC will be willing to accept the 13th Amendment after what it experienced with it in the late 1980s. Besides, it, is well aware that governments since then have offered genuine devolution packages as evidenced by the Constitutional Amendment Bill brought to Parliament in August 2000 by the CBK regime. It was drafted in consultation with all parties in Parliament and these included the TULF and all other “minority parties”. The UNP too had endorsed it after consultations that spread over six months.
Isolation of LTTE
What President MR has got into his hands at his own bidding from an effete APRC is counter productive even in relation to his own strategy which is the rooting out of LTTE terrorism before embarking on a peace process. The sine qua non for success in such effort is the isolation of the LTTE from the TC. But MR’s present move, far from isolating the LTTE, pushes the TC to the point of accepting LTTE credibility and giving it a sanctity as could trigger a genuine guerilla movement with or without a Prabhakaran. The LTTE has at all times been terrorist in approach and strategy. That was its, Achilles heel. A genuine guerilla movement may make things different in the consciousness of the Tamil community. A military solution may not be the end of the road.
Lara said,
January 27, 2008 @ 1:42 am
Wow – finally one singhalese has had the sense to realize that regardless of the LTTE – there is a genuine problem that the Tamils are fighting against. He also has the sense to realize that successive governments have tried to downplay the situation.
Bravo Weerakoon.
Who will BELL the MR LION...???? said,
January 27, 2008 @ 3:11 am
If Mahinda Rajapakshe can “Plant” the 13th Amendment as APRC proposal,then, what was the purpose of APC/APRC wasting tax payers money for the past two years?
If this is not dictatorial then what is?
The least Prof.Vitharana should have put out the “Majority Report” as a solution and washed his hands off.
Already two parties have not consulted but mentioned as agreed to 13th Amendment????? How many others are quiet due to Gothaya antic of fear of life. Just like Maheswaran who didn’t vote with the GOSL in the budget…???
rubbish people, rubbish govt. rubbish country…!!!
krish said,
January 27, 2008 @ 10:59 am
lets for a moment assume LTTE is the stumbling block.what has the GOSL whoever in power done to the TC.Infact they used the TC to come to power.they have terrorised the TC all the 60 years they are in Power.How can the TC believe any GOSL.What happened during Tsunami.Has Gosl allocated a penny towards the development of the north and East since independance.the only two establkishment in the north were the cement factory because of the raw material and the Paranthan Chemical facotory,long closed.This also due to GG Ponnampalams gift to the sinhalese of removing the voting right of the Estate tamils,The tea estates were the major money earner even now.Forgetting the sacrifices these people have done in developing the estates with their life.The TC will never have a say in the development of Sri-Lanka.The TC will never hold any power of significance in any GOSL. Only puppets like Devanada and Pillayan and the like will be given power.Ultimately they will also get a deplomatic passport like Karuna.We need Prabaharan he has put our issues on the table,he has given GOSL many a chances.He knows no Gosl will meet the aspirations of the TC The TC cannot Trust the GOSL.
The IC only India Japan and USA are playing active role (because of China factor) but can do nothing fair to the TCHavn’t you noticed Blakes speeches and statements recently..Perhaps the US INdia and Japan could open a swiss account in all the Sinhalese leaders names and deposit a few million dollars.That amount will be far less than the debt they are going to write off.
Sri-Lanka is a failed and Paraiah state.They are beggars and always will be.Only the TC can save them(Sinhalese).
Ratna said,
January 27, 2008 @ 11:24 am
Either way Tamils have to live under the rule of gun. I think they prefer to live under Ltte guns rather than Sinhalese guns.
Devinda Fernando said,
January 27, 2008 @ 10:49 pm
*** Either way Tamils have to live under the rule of gun. I think they prefer to live under Ltte guns rather than Sinhalese guns. ***
Another IDIOT who has never been to Sri Lanka in the past 20 years… 54% of Tamil Sri Lankans live in the South…are they all “living under the Gun” – what a joke this person is… they have no idea How Tamils are actually living.
Devinda Fernando said,
January 27, 2008 @ 11:00 pm
*** But P dead or alive is not really the problem. ***
It is Absolutely the PROBLEM! Prabharkaran Dead will END the LTTE. Whatever is left will splinter or die out… either way they will fade into oblivion.
Prabharkaran and the LTTE are not like AL Qaeda and Bin Laden. Al Qaeda and Bin Laden are a completely different structure. If Bin Laden was killed tomorrow Al Qaeda will continue to grow and move on. He (Bin Laden) is a Spiritual guide but insignificant in terms of the operation of the organization. Al Qaeda is about an Ideology. This ideology creates splinter groups that carry out attacks all around the world. Prabharkaran IS the LTTE, he is the central figure. People worship him as the “GREAT SUN GOD” – In LTTE controlled areas he has outlawed Religion and people Pray to him! What do you think will happen when he finally gets Blown to Bits by our ever closing Armed forces???? EELAM OVER! thats what! He has been talked up so much, people carry his picture all over the world, when they refer to the LTTE they refer to Prabharkaran. when Prabharkaran Dies,… the LTTE dies with him….
Raj said,
January 28, 2008 @ 12:23 am
Comment 3:
“They are beggars and always will be.Only the TC can save them(Sinhalese)”
Have you visited Tamil Nadu lately the homeland of the TC, let me tell you after visiting Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore it very evident that Tamil Nadu is the latrine of modern India, Walking down the main street I lost count of how many beggars I seen going to the toilet.
Perhaps you better save your TC in the homeland of glorious Tamil history before saving the sinhalese. But i guess you dont have much money for worthwhile causes because you spend most of it buying suicide belts for invalids to bomb school buses.
Raj said,
January 28, 2008 @ 4:23 am
Hi Krish,
Can you please provide the link of Blakes speeches and statements?
siva said,
January 28, 2008 @ 1:20 pm
Thanks Mr Weerakoon for an article with the truthful situation. We all know the current APRC proposal was one mans(MR) wish ( inspite of the APRC committe sitting for 62 sessions, learned people breaking their heads to put forward an acceptable solutions while trying to satisfy the International committe saying that a legitimate proposal was in the making.) where did we arrive. Back to Squre one 20 years ago. So much for the forward thinks politicians of Sri Lanka.
Yes we are being pushed further close to LTTE.
I suppose it is better to live under LTTE than The Sinhalese Army.
Ruwan said,
January 28, 2008 @ 7:43 pm
Dear Batty,
Why don’t you take this message to South Sinhala community in Sinhala.
They are the people have to decide their fate. Sinhala chauvinism may lead to a dead zone. They have to realize.
At one point, the State Terrorism will be punished by the world. There is a limit for every thing. SL can not fool the World forever.
Thanks Batty for your time. Please do more.
Kas said,
January 28, 2008 @ 10:52 pm
well said devinda,
This is what some of these tamils , who were living in western countries since 1983 would never understand. Sri Lanka and its citizens has gone 25 years forward after the 1983 riots. Half of the tamil population live among the sinhalese without a problem, but these sinhalese haters from canada, uk and Aus still live in the early eighties and still spreading the hatred to their children.
Soultion is a must. Sri Lanka must understand that a viable and a honest solution is imminent, but these idiots in western countries should shut up and stop funding terrorism. Thats a favour to all in Sri Lanka.
Sen said,
January 29, 2008 @ 8:31 am
#5., Devinda Fernando, seems to claim as an intelligent person, but his naivety doesn’t allow to understand that there was no census taken in Tamil provinces Sri Lanka, after 1980s. Well, that 54% comes from the bigoted and twisted census department of Sri Lanka, as of other SL government departments, always provide misinformation. In 2008, you can claim that 99% Tamils are living in South, as you can’t take proper census in North and East. In North – the war is ravaging on and in East, your government has displaces more than two thirds of the Tamils living there, so why not you are shy on claiming that Tamils are not living in Sri Lanka . Your archaeology department, got expertise in twisting the history and claiming all parts of sri lanka for Sinhalese by planting Buddha statutes. Even the mahavamsa, the myth and the twisted reporting of history, at least acknowledged that Tamils lived in this island and some of the kings were Tamils. If India allows, the SL government and the chauvinist people will claim India and all south Asia as of their original land citing Buddha was a Sinhalese !!. Well done intelligent Davinda, I salute your half witted brain !!!.
Regarding #6, prabaharan’s end may end LTTE, but not the Tamil national fight. It will come and bite you and your government with more vengeance. Please note that Prabaharan did not create this problem, but your chauvinist government from 1956 did create this problem by treating Tamils as a second or third class citizen of former Ceylon. By the way, before Portuguese came to Ceylon, it was never a single county – but three kingdoms.
Devinda Fernando said,
January 29, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
*** Well, that 54% comes from the bigoted and twisted census department of Sri Lanka, as of other SL government departments ***
MY GOD! I SEEM TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DUMBEST PERSON IN THE WORLD!!!
LOL!
So Sen, are you claiming that 0% of Tamils Live in the South? What are you saying Machan? Are you telling me that the 54% number is wrong? How many do YOU think live in the south then? Enlighten me! Enlighten us ALL! How many do you think live in Wellawatte? How many upcountry? You obviously have not been to Colombo lately ,..and by lately I mean in the Past 20 years!
I now can see why Prabhakaran has managed to fool so many people for so long,..if the Intelect is anything like Mr. Sen over here, I would not be surprised if he will continue to fool these IDIOTS after he is dead!
chales ryan said,
January 29, 2008 @ 5:58 pm
Ignorant Devinda Fernando needs to be reminded there are are showers of bombs in north and East.That is why Tamils live outsde their homeland. The army occupation and intimidation started in Jaffna from 1960, when only Satyagraha was the means of protest by democratic Tamil leaders.They were beaten up by the army.
It is the Sinhalese politicians,Buddhist monks and uneducated southern masses who gave birth to Tigers.Even now the stupid people believe in a government who uses an armed paramilitary as their coalition to intimidate voters. Whats the difference between goverment’s action in Eastern Province election and Terrorism?Sinhalese followers and their “government” have become a shameless object of ridicule in the whole world.
Athos said,
January 30, 2008 @ 1:07 am
/*
Either way Tamils have to live under the rule of gun. I think they prefer to live under Ltte guns rather than Sinhalese guns.
*/
I have to disagree with you. If you live under LTTE guns, you have to face the Sinhala guns in addition to LTTE ones. This is because the LTTE living amongst the Jaffna Tamils will be shot at by the Sinhalese. I think it would be better overall if Jaffna Tamils live under Sinhala guns.
Sen said,
January 30, 2008 @ 2:02 am
13# Devinda Fernando, I am not claiming that 0% Tamils live other than north and east. What I am saying is that 54% comes from the census department, which didn’t do the census in the North and East, but did not highlight the fact properly in their data. See your census department data at: http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/PDF/Population/p9p8%20Ethnicity.pdf
With your blind eyes, if you see, some Tamil districts names such as Jaffna or Batticaloa, even Trincomalle (where the SL govt has chased away half of the Tamils and now settling Sinhala ex convicts), let us know. You believe that I am living overseas, where are you living? Are you fighting the war in North and East as patriotic clan led by JVP and JHU (well – they don’t as well, only poor pesante are shown the way to die by the so called patriotic masters) BTW, I am not a Machan to you, may be some of half Tamil blood is still running on you, if you are from a royal or aristocratic family in Srilanka. Then you can call me Machan, and you may know the history, why I am saying so. If not, I am not hesitant to educate the uneducated. Looking forward to it, if the forum allows me.
ilaya seran senguttuvan said,
January 30, 2008 @ 10:31 am
Batty is a good-intentioned, decent and learned man. He wishes the country well and to see it regain that peace of the earlier
years when the LSSP was a favoured party of the non-Vellalar
educated Tamils. These Tamils not only provided the LSSP membership but also leadership material until 1960 as the LSSP stood uncompromisingly for principled politics. They were a pride of any secular society. But the enticements of power and office seduced such great men as NM, Colvin, Leslie, Bernard and others.
The Tamils torn between the call for separation and a United Sri Lanka were dissappointed. To watch NM and Colvin carrying
trays of flowers in the Kandy Viharas, in Tamil eyes, was both amusing and a sign of things to come. Colvin insensitively
removed 29C and thrust the final nail in the coffin of secularism by bringing the Unitary State feature – from which successive governments are unable to entangle themselves from. And Mr VP arrived in the political spectrum as a consequence.
But good men like my friend Batty can continue to offer wisdom and direction – as does his colleague Tissa Vitharana.
But the 80% (?) Sinhala Buddhist electorate with the clerical heirarchy, the Sinhala Mudalali Mafia, the opprtunistic JHU and the unpredictable JVP with the armed forces will hold centre stage for many years to come – unless something totally unexpected intervenes in the interim. Batty had his chance to influence matters when he was in Cabinet but the forces of racial and religious reaction, he would certainly have found, have consolidated themselves to astonishing depths.
Ganga said,
February 1, 2008 @ 8:12 am
Re some of above comments
I am living in Sri Lanka. No matter whats the census dept say, 54% or otherwise, Tamils are forced to live in the south because of the war conditions in the north and east.. The devasting aerial and land bombardments chase any humans (and cattles and dogs and cats…) away from death traps. So Tamils or Muslims, for that matter Sinhalese run out of the war zone. It happens in any war torn country. So claiming proudness of ‘more’ Tamils living in the south is nothing but sick communalism. Also mind you that, Sri Lanka is an island. There is virtually no escape sea routes. The innocent Tamil people venture through the rough sea are also hunted down mercilessly by the SL navy and the nature. If there is common land border with India most of the Tamils would have prefered India rather than south Sinhala land. On the other hand do not imagine that Tamils in the south are living peacefully and happily. Dont you guys read news? They are Hunted down. Arrested. Evicted. Abducted. Extrajudicially killed. Tortured. Extorted. Insulted. There are times that in Colombo, drunken police officers walk into lodges where innocent Tamils live and pick up young Tamil girls. And not to speak of the Up-Country Tamils, They are the most backward people in the country although they still carry on the Lankan economy in their solders in the biggest way. And about 900,000 SL Tamils are out of the island. There are 250,000 IDPs. This is official figure. There are aboiut another 200,000 living in private places, lodges etc in various parts of the country. So please do not talk noncense without understanding the reality. If you do not understand just shut-up! Is it clear Mr. Zero?
Sinha Puthra( Canada) said,
February 1, 2008 @ 8:46 pm
As long as Prabakaran lives, who can be the tamil leader. If we have a political solution this time it will be a utter failure.Let say all Sri Lankans nominate one tamil gentleman as their political leader in northen province what would happen to him within few months. Definitely he will be killed by so called tamil liberator Prabakaran. So eliminate him first and find a political solution. Some fools in International community couldn’t understand the reality. Please come to southern part of Sri Lanka and see how sinhalease and Tamils living together very happily.
Long live Tamil and Sinhala brotherhood !
ilaya seran senguttuvan said,
February 2, 2008 @ 3:39 am
I want to share the beautiful thoughts of Sinha Putra and join him in working towards a Sinhala Tamil Brotherhood. Thats what we were for long – and thats what we must become in spite of the
JHU, the Sinhala and the Tamil extremists. Let us fix our challenge to building up such a lovely relationship – and the international community and India will be there to back us…As to our friend Ganga’s strong feelings I did’nt see any comments from Mr Zero?????
nathan said,
February 2, 2008 @ 11:06 am
Tamils DO live in the south – because of the need to live near their places of work (public service, businesses) near schools attended by their children etc. Also since somehave owned property for a long time.
But they live in fear of unlawful arrest and incarceration, ransom demands, unlawful search of their abodes by army/police, kidnappings, of being framed for crime committed by others etc. They try to maintain a low profile to avoid unwelcome attention of army/police.
In the north & east, they live in fear of the state paramilitaries operating under the protection of the state armed forces. One of these groups is headed by a cabinet minister.