TNA must disavow separatist politics and accept a political solution within a unitary state
by Dayapala Thiranagama
The TNA, the remnant of old politics in the Tamil community has entered a new era. The post LTTE politics has made it possible to create conditions for a democratic culture in the North and East. But the defeat of the LTTE alone will not make it possible to create a genuine democratic culture. The Sinhalese political leadership should show its sensitivity and empathy towards a community of people who have suffered nearly three decades of the most destructive and the brutal war the country had ever seen. The IDPs are becoming almost a forgotten human tragedy. Some of them are still languishing in camps.
The most important and crucial input should come from the Sinhalese political leadership in their responsibility to offer a genuine political solution. None of the main contenders in the Presidential election did talk about any political solution in a way that would satisfy the democratic aspirations of the Tamil people. At this moment the TNA has a major role to play in democratic politics. The TNA’s endorsement of Sarath Fonseka in the Presidential election and his success in receiving a wide margin of Tamil votes than President Rajapaksa shows that the TNA’s strong influence on the Tamil vote even without negotiating a substantial package of devolution of power for the Tamil community.
However, can the TNA be trusted as a democratic party? They have not announced any new policy or explained how they are going make changes to their old politics in the aftermath of the LTTE’s military defeat. The TNA can not survive as a democratic party of the Tamils without making changes to its political ideology inherited from its association with the LTTE and its allotted role as the silent partner of violent politics.
The main thrust of this article is to discuss the political problems that the TNA poses for Tamils and themselves by not understanding or willfully disregarding the changes that they should be making in order to be available as a safer democratic alternative for the Tamil community.
The unexpected, dramatic and decisive military defeat of the LTTE in May 2009 at the hands of the Sri Lankan military marked a seismic shift of the politico-military landscape of the Tamil community to the political proper by opening a new era of democratic space in the North and East. Throughout its existence, the LTTE acted as if the historical burden of the Tamil’s national future had rested on their shoulders, a self professed moral responsibility that required them to make others subservient to their political ideology by coercion and political violence. The TNA (Tamil National Alliance) became their proxy.
The LTTE military defeat has changed the whole scenario and the huge political vacuum left by them has not been filled by the TNA or the ex –militant groups (EPDP, EPRLF, PLOTE and TMVP) who work with the Sri Lankan government. The TNA appears to be the most favourite candidate to fill this vacuum because of their political base in Tamil nationalism but they are unable to do so without demonstrating how they have come out of the violent and totalitarian cohabitation with the LTTE.
Neither pro -government and ex- paramilitary groups nor the TNA can pursue old politics in the new era of democratic politics. Unless the TNA makes it quite clear about their association with the LTTE and how they tolerated an unprecedented political and military suppression and targeted assassinations of their own community by the LTTE a Tamil militant organization, the TNA’s political honesty and democratic morality becomes dubious and questionable. If they disregard this, it will be incongruent with the Tamil community’s democratic project.
If political parties are not open to their political past and hide their serious political mistakes they will tend to make the same mistake again and again. In the South the JVP has adopted this kind of evasion about their past. If the TNA continues to do that it would be possible they will easily become the prey to another narrow nationalistic military project. This could be avoided only if they accepted it as an anti- democratic and a political mistake. It is necessary to make parties responsible for their anti democratic and other kind of political criminality they have committed in the name of liberation. If the TNA wants to re-enter democratic politics it has to forge a new political identity and make a departure from its questionable past as the proxy of the LTTE.
In order to reposition as a democratic party it is necessary to look at and understand the serious political mistakes the TNA were responsible for during those dark years of violent politics.
The LTTE on its journey to totalitarianism used the TNA to acquire a democratic face for its undemocratic activities. The TNA provided a mass base for the LTTE’s military project. The LTTE also brought the TNA under its political wing into submissive politics fusing their political ideology with the TNA’s narrow nationalistic politics. Even though they appeared as genuine and equal partners the TNA was not able to be critical of the LTTE’s political and military line. When the LTTE eliminated all the other militant groups, political activists, Tamil political leaders and intellectuals in the Tamil community, the TNA never criticized the LTTE for these crimes. The TNA should have opposed this anti democratic assault on their own people and the way in which they managed keep quiet and offered tacit support is unacceptable. It is interesting to know whether or not they were able to oppose these and the response that they received from the LTTE.
The TNA also demanded that the Sri Lankan government must negotiate with only the LTTE and campaigned vigorously that no other Tamil group should be included in any negotiations. This political demand, for the benefit of the LTTE demonstrated that inclusive practice and political pluralism were sacrificed for the politics of totalitarianism. In the process the TNA also argued for the LTTE as the sole and authentic representative of the Tamil people and equated the Tamil community with the LTTE.When the LTTE made it clear that they would not accept any political settlement short of a separate state, the TNA kept quiet and did not explain their political position on the issue at the time and did not make any effort at distancing themselves from the separatist political line of the LTTE.
Mr. Sampanthan’s recent statement that they never advocated a separate state and their long held political view from the TULF days that any settlement would be within a unitary state of Sri Lanka has been clarified only after the LTTE’s defeat It is also important to know whether the TNA made any protest about the expulsion of Muslims from Jaffna and its subsequent perpetuation of ethnic cleansing by the LTTE as this forms the very basis of depriving the ethnic minorities of their legitimate rights.
The whole political association with the TNA was part of the LTTE’s military project. The TNA never condemned armed violence nor did they repudiate armed struggle in achieving political aims. At least now they should understand the futility of the armed intervention and how the armed struggle could close democratic space rather than opening it. Only through honesty and genuine reflection can people become able to trust their political integrity and their genuine desire for a democratic alternative in similar situations.
If the TNA wishes to face up to the new challenge of democratic politics they will have to accept the new political culture that is evolving after the defeat of the LTTE.The TNA needs to declare, in no uncertain terms that they will not pursue separatist politics and will accept a political solution within a unitary state. This will not be a difficult task now as Mr. Sampanthan has clarified that they never advocated a separate state in the past. The main political benefit of this would be the weakening of the foundations of the Sinhalese hegemonic forces. The Presidential election and the unexpected huge margin of UPFA victory demonstrates that any political move or even a slightest suspicion and indication that would potentially divide the country will be defeated. This is the reality and if you want to change this reality you need to accept a separatist political ideology is a non-starter.
Along with this the TNA should repudiate the armed violence and actively work towards democratic politics in their struggle for the maximum devolution of power. They need to condemn the political assassinations carried out by the LTTE and assure people that they will never be silent about such criminal activities in future. They also need to build bridges with the Sinhalese south in their democratic struggle against the authoritarian tendencies of the Sri Lanka state. Such a move will pave the way for a greater understanding in their common struggle for democracy.
The LTTE dominance in Tamil politics was a great hindrance for such an understanding and this should end now. The TNA has to make their views clear about the ethnic cleansing of the Muslims and oppose such fascistic tendencies within Tamil politics. They should act responsibly in the North and East with regard to potential Muslim return to former homes. If they continue with the old political ideology they will strengthen narrow Tamil Nationalism which would take them to the past. This will destroy the current achievements and close the democratic opening that is already in place.
This account shows that the TNA has a long way to go in clearing their undemocratic past . They need to throw away their dogmatic politics. Unless they achieve this they will repeat the history of submissive politics when there is another armed project in place. That would be politically dangerous and democratically disastrous. The TNA’s politics needs to be widely debated as the future implications can be very critical for the democratic politics of the Tamil community if they are unable to reposition democratic politics in a meaningful and genuine way.
(This article is published here as requested by the writer)
33 Comments
"The TNA’s endorsement of Sarath Fonseka in the Presidential election and his success in receiving a wide margin of Tamil votes than President Rajapaksa shows that the TNA’s strong influence on the Tamil vote even without negotiating a substantial package of devolution of power for the Tamil community."
In reality the endorsement of Sarath Fonseka in recent election does not show somebody seeking a solution to in-house problems of Sri Lanka. The current opposition parties creating situations to divide the Sri Lankan nation. This is a very difficult time for the ruling party to launch the development programs because of the opposition party anti campaign actions,creating people antagonism and spread of rumors to foreign donor countries. What they are doing is digging the grave yard to our nation’s economy.
It is neccesary that all political parties renounce violence and seperatism and unequivocally pledge their loyalty to the sovereign state of Sri Lanka. Until the TNA does this there will always be some suspicion regarding their ultimate goal. In order to belay this suspicion which is undermining the trust of the majority community, the TNA should take this step and break with the vestiges of the past for the future betterment of the Tamil community.
Please do not say that tamil voted for tna.
north and east are traditional unp vote bank in the event of presidential election.
TNA'a just exploit that fact.
.
FP...TULF.....LTTE.....TNA... all are in the right direction to prove to the world that Sinhalese are not going to share power with Tamils.
And all possibilities are that by 2020.. Eelam War V starts.
:-)
A reasonable article to encourage a political dialogue for a lasting solution in Sri Lanka. But I suppose the initiative should come from the Tamil political leadership for a fair and balanced political settlement than the government leadership.
Successive governments have offered various concessions to meet the extreme demands of LTTE several times, but they never waived their stand from a separate state. Every offer Sri Lanka made was an accommodation of LTTE separatist demands, and the government should abandon all such offers and negotiate from the beginning.
The 2002 so called peace accord is a shame for any democracy that group of rebels forced on a democratically elected government. The international community was silent even basic principles of democracy was shattered. The government of the day even did not comply with their responsibility by tabling the accord in the parliament for ratification.
They circumvent the law and spirit by keeping this agreement as secret during their tenor of office. Present government has so far has been credible in their actions and hopefully they will pull Sri Lanka out of a sorry state before long. All those bogus patriots who are writing against the government without any facts beware that they will be targeted by the ordinary people for their false reporting.
It is becoming increasingly clear that what Tamils want in the post-LTTE Sri Lanka is no different from what Tamils wanted in the 50s, 60s and 70s before the LTTE violently hijacked Tamil politics. The post-LTTE TNA is reflecting that and any calls for TNA to change or otherwise accept something that is only favourable to the Sinhala masses but unfavourable to the Tamils is an attempt to suppress the genuine democratic rights of the Tamils.
It is also completely unfair to only ask the TNA to look at their past without asking the Sri Lankan state to look at their past and present in terms of violence against Tamils. After all the TNA-LTTE marriage was only 5 or 6 years old (?) whilst the state sponsored violence against Tamil goes back to the 50s. It is not as if the state violence has stopped since the defeat of the LTTE. The Rajapaksa regime still maintains the pro-govt terror groups (you call them ex-militants) EPDP and TMVP to violently bring the Tamils in line if and when required.
You want the TNA to condemn the political assassinations of the LTTE but what about the assassinations of the four democratically elected Tamil MPs by these pro-govt terror groups between 2004 and 2008? Couple of them responsible for these assassinations are Ministers in the current government.
The TNA are acting responsibly under difficult conditions, building alliances with the other victim of Sinhala nationalism, the Muslims and who knows there might be alliances built in the future with Sinhala liberals too. Don’t ask the Tamils to accept second class status.
By conveniently ignoring the state violence (past and ongoing) against Tamils, all this article is attempting to do is ask the TNA and indirectly the Tamil people to accept the reality of their place in Sri Lankan society as oppressed, silent and intimidated people which to me is a recipe for “another armed project” as you called it.
For all the ills of the last 60 years of SL style democracy,it is the FP/TNA and its plocies and the Tamils who supported ( by the I never voted for FP between 1969 and 1972, the only two times I voted )them are responsible.
Even though under a cloak he says "The most important and crucial input should come from the Sinhalese political leadership in their responsibility to offer a genuine political solution " and further utternaces of this type of advocates is that this is the right time for the Tamils to beg for a solution from a Sinhalese regime.
Dayapala echos MR's stand in his interview ( Tamils have no choice but come to me for negotiations )with N.Ram of Hindu, by saying "The Presidential election and the unexpected huge margin of UPFA victory demonstrates that any political move or even a slightest suspicion and indication that would potentially divide the country will be defeated. This is the reality and if you want to change this reality you need to accept a separatist political ideology is a non-starter.
Many people I know are of the view that those Sinhalese intellectuals who are also Sinhalese nationalists or supporters, sees clearly that majority of the Sinhalese are going to suffer in the long term, unless they help Mahinda regime to divide the Tamils into many factions so that there is no dominant party( only Sinhalese can have ) representing the Tamils and impose a solution. Even the regional governments are backing Mahinda regime in covert ways and creating many divisions within the Tamil community who are still trying to stand up on their own feet after the war.
I see there is no difference between JR regime and Mahinda regime . They are both leaders of the Sinhalese who collaborated well with India in suppressing the Tamils with their pressidential power.
Because of the change in the world order Mahinda regime has wooed Easta Asian countries and Russsia, Pakistan and Iran.
Actually what Dayapala's essence or concotion for Tamils for to continue with their mere existence without sovereignty( and not for particular existence like the majority Sinhalese with sovereignty since 1948)is we have conqured you and your terriotories and there is not even a federal solution for you to demand now, and Mahinda Chinthana rules. Prelude to this elections we have divided you into EPDP,TNA,PLOTE,TMVP,Left front with Wickrmabahu, SLFP and UNP in NE.
Therefore Tamils have no choice but to agree with Mahinda regime's offer and sign for a permanent solution that is binding for ever. With the support of foreign governments we will divide the TNA further, replace EPDP and PLOTE with SLFP, and soon divide the Tamil Diaspora further who worries about their motherland in NE of SL island and lobbies the International Community to seek justice.
Here is a lesson on strangling the fallen!
I am not any admirer of TNA. But, that should not allow me to watch it being thrashed.
A) The most important and crucial input should come from the Sinhalese political leadership in their responsibility to offer a genuine political solution that would satisfy the democratic aspirations of the Tamil people. (seconded)
B) The Sinhalese political leadership should show its sensitivity and empathy towards a community of people who have suffered nearly three decades of the most destructive and the brutal war the country had ever seen. (to put it mildly)
C) The unexpected, dramatic and decisive military defeat of the LTTE in May 2009 at the hands of the Sri Lankan military marked a seismic shift of the politico-military landscape of the Tamil community. (conceded)
D) The LTTE acted as if the historical burden of the Tamil’s national future had rested on their shoulders, a self professed moral responsibility. (A self professed moral responsibility demanded by circumstances. The economic and political strangulation of Tamils, affected the future of the youth most; and, deemed it inevitable)
E) The TNA also demanded that the Sri Lankan government must negotiate with only the LTTE and campaigned vigorously that no other Tamil group should be included in any negotiations. (It would appear that the other Tamil groups that were included in an alliance all turned out to be not so steadfast; some were even moles or turned out to be saboteurs)
F) When the LTTE made it clear that they would not accept any political settlement short of a separate state,.. (Falsification. True, they did not declare any intent to a lesser objective, there was no genuine effort to devolve power, either. It would have been suicidal to bare their hand)
G) It is also important to know whether the TNA made any protest about the expulsion of Muslims from Jaffna. (Does anyone know what led to such a drastic action)
H) The TNA needs to declare, in no uncertain terms that they will not pursue separatist politics. (Even if they did, it would be a deception)
I) The main political benefit of this would be the weakening of the foundations of the Sinhalese hegemonic forces. (Not so sure. When did those hegemonic forces first begin running amok?)
Conclusion: Conduct and behaviour suited for normal conditions and circumstance should not be demanded from those who are experiencing and/or are subjected to pain, hardships, deprivation and the like.
Hi Mr. Thiranagama, Thanks you for this write-up. I think TNA or some of them in it are attempting to do what you are saying, or some of it....looks it will be better they take most of what you say.
Thanks once again.
Dear Dayapala Thiranagama, while your article written with the intention of restructuring the TNA, you have hit the nail on the head, that is in your own words, "The most important and crucial input should come from the Sinhalese political leadership in their responsibility to offer a genuine political solution" - I could not agree anymore. I will even argue that the magnaminity from the Sinahlese is the only factor that is needed in solving the ethnic conflict in SL, despite the fact MR thinks there is no minority in SL (unless he thinks geocide is now concluded). If the fearsome LTTE could not achive anything for Tamils in SL, then the weak TNA, does not matter how many times they change themselves cannot get anything for Tamils from the Southern polity.
Not sure what Sambandan said about a Separate state, but in the 1977 elections the Tamil people have overwhelmly provided the mandate for TULF for a separate state for Tamils. So to go against this democratic mandate, we need another referendum, Sambandan cannot change his mind in fear of MR regime.
Finally, good try in portraying LTTE as a group not supported by the Tamils. Please consider the following points.
1. Majority of the Tamils DID/DO NOT AGREE with LTTE tactics.
2. The same majority of the Tamils DID/DO AGREE with LTTE ideology and understand why they are resorting to their unpopular tactics.
3. The same majority of the Tamils DID/DO AGREE that the Sihalese Govts cannot be trusted.
There is no point in blaming the LTTE, an organization, given birth by the Tamils, only after the Tamils failed miscerably in getting the attention of the Southern polity to provide them with equal status in SL. - Like it or not, the fact is that the LTTE is the baby of the immatured Sothern polity. The magnaminity from the victorius Sinhalese South can solve the SL ethnic problem in a minute. But is the Southern polity is capable of it? The sorry answer is a big NO.
While I also agree that the Tamils should work with the Sinhalse in achieving their rights. But, I believe this partnership should be formed on equal terms and not on unequal terms. That is if Sinahslese people can speak their mind and say what they want then Tamils should be able to do so. Therefore, I think the Tamil / Sinahalese partnership should be based on a matured family problem situation. That is, if you respect me give me my rights and we can live together (Unitary state) otherwise let me go on my own way (Separate state).- Sort of carrot / stick approach.
I must add that the TNA leader Sampathan who was and still is the main mouth piece for the LTTE apologize to all civilians who were killed or maimed by the suicide bombs and assassins starting with Mr Alfred Duraiappa
He must also apologize to all Muslims and Sinhalese who were chased away from their lands.
With the hundreds of millions of LTTE Dollars that are being unearthed, the Government must establish a fund to pay compensation to all civilian victims or their direct dependents. The government must also compensate Tamil people for their losses in life and property,in Colombo and other parts during the riots that resulted from the killing of the 13 the soldiers in Jaffna.
Comrade Dayapala,
Did the TNA ask for your advice?
Are you still with the JVP?
Have you joined the UPFA as yet?
You do enjoy a fine image among the Tamils, please do not destroy it.
Mr. Thiranagama,
Aren't you mixing up 'unitary' and 'united'?
Federalism was a central demand of the TULF as well as Sampanthan. Even Sangaree called for Indian style pseudo-Federalism. That is a solution within a united country. However, paranoiac Sinhalese continue to call it separatism and advocate a "unitary" solution--meaning no solution at all except just paying lip-service to equal rights, as the SLFP and the JVP have been doing in recent years.
You conveniently forget the war crimes, the IDPs left to fend for themselves, the mutilated, blinded, crippled, disfigured victims of the war. Dismissal of the enormous crimes perpetrated on the Tamil community, with the claim that it happens in any war, by many Sinhalese intellectuals is exactly the wrong approach. It will keep Tamil nationalism alive for decades to come, just waiting for the right time to come back. Far from advising your fellow Sinhalese, the SLFP, JHU, UNP and JVP, about the consequences of such crimes committed against the Tamil people, you have chosen it fit to advise the Tamils and the TNA repeatedly on what they should do. It is time for Tamils to tell you again what instead YOU should do. First resettle people with adequate compensation in their own lands. Tend to the victims of war. Get the Army out of their homes and villages. Get the HSZs dismantled. Prosecute war criminals. These are essential steps that have to happen; until then, what the TNA should do shouldn't be your business at all.
If there is one political grouping in the NEP that will gain wide acceptance by the Tamils in the Province it is the TNA, which the writer pre-supposes is on the decline. The TNA formed at the time of the ascendancy of the LTTE was an attempt to unify the Tamil voice into a single one. It was at that time mainly the TULF and the others like the EPRLF and TELO with Devananda's EPDP and PLOTE remaining outside, as I recall. Left to themselves and without coercion, Tamils in the Jaffna, Mannar, Trincomalee, Batticoloa Districts will repeat their choice of 1977. Allowing sufficient time for the free, democratic culture to re-grow there is every chance the bulk of the NEP Tamils (and Muslims as well) will gather round the TNA. The last local elections in Jaffna and the Presidential election results prove Tamils in the NEP dis-associate themselves with the continued gun culture of the goons lead by Devananda, Karuna, Pillaiyan and others. The common cry of the people there and in the diaspora is that their society should be free of the gun culture that brought them ruin - and a bad name. (ayuda kalacharathai muri-adikka vendrum) The detatched and ageing Sampanthan may not enjoy wide personal support but with the calibre of leaders like Amirthalingam, Sivasithamparam, Yogeswaran gone they will settle for a leadership under Sampanthan. Suresh Premachandran, Mavai Senathirajah are well liked as well. Sidarthan and friends in the PLOTE have some work to do to regain wider acceptance as they seem to have lost their grip in Vavuniya as well.
ISS
Tamil and the Tamil speakers if they wish to be identified as such MUST accept the state of Sri Lanka as one entity.
That there are rights and resposibilities that governments that are elected MUST adhere to with regard to it's member citizens.
There is defintely room for improving the current UNITARY CONSTITUTION whilst I think that there is ZERO room to introduce a FEDERAL CONSTITUTION based on ETHNIC DEMOGRAPHICS in Sri Lanka.
Basically, the Sinhalese-Buddhists have accepted that there can be Tamils living in the so called majority Sinhala areas. Sure, there have been riots and fighting so the solution for that is better POLICING and ADMINISTRATION not a separate state in those areas.
Also English as a GLOBAL Language needs to be introduced to ALL communities in Sri Lanka. Whilst teaching the first language either Sinhala or Tamil.
The Tamils have to accept that IF YOU ARE GOING TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY THAT IS NOT TAMIL or NON-TAMIL then you, your family and the community is going to get affected by the OTHER-GROUP invariably. This is a FACT not a MYTH.
So if you are going to isolate yourself then the OTHER will become suspicious of EVERYTHING you do. It is better to be open, upfront and be honest.
The Tamils have to accept that in time to come there will be more Sinhalese in the North and the East. There could be more Muslims than either group for that matter. So these demographic changes are bound to happen.
If you would like to live in a majority Tamil State then there is little Sri Lankan government can do other than suggesting that you take up Indian Citizenship and move to Tamil Nadu state.
Whereever the Sinhalese have migrated to they have to accept that they are a minority and work according to those cultures, languages, ethos of the place they reside. If they want to live in a majority Sinhala state then they have to move to Sri Lanka.
I guess this above is true for Tamil migrants to other conutries from India as well as Sri Lanka.
There is ONLY so much that one can do to isolate your children from the OTHER. The best policy would be to learn to respect one another for what they are and try NOT to change them. In time people will change and the change under those circumstances would be for the better.
Whereas if you ALWAYS insist that I MUST HAVE THIS I MUST HAVE THAT then the results are not favourable to ANYONE concerned.
'Seismic shift'' should be the change in Sinhalese mindset.
From the time of independence and believing DS SEnanayake's call:
'no harm need they fear at our hands in a free Lanka'. Appealing specifically to the Tamils, he asked, 'do you want to be governed from London or do you want, as Ceylonese, to help govern Ceylon?’ (State Council Debate on the Soulbury Constitution 1945),
they started trying unitary state in 1948 and changed to federalism and then to separation trying meanwhile satyagraha andconciliatory pacts with SWRDB and DusdleySenanayake.
Tamils' change of mind has had no bearing on the course of Sri lankan politics for 62 years.
Tamils are desperately waiting for a ''seismic shift'' in the Sinhalese mindset.
Great reply from NATHAN.
Dayapala need not preach to the Tamils of NE. They have gone through the darkest time in their history both from the LTTE & Govt. They are not fools and they know what lies ahead.
True TNA has not been a great party, but they filled an important role in the absence of any democratic representation for the Tamils. The greatest traitor to our nation (Sri Lankans) JR sent the leader of the opposition and all Tamil representation from NE home (Amirthalingam & Co). It was the TNA even though under the influence of LTTE voiced the Tamils grieviences.
In the Presidential elections Tamils overwhelmingly voted for the TNA (SF). It is a TNA vote.
Dayapala go and preach to the ultra sinhala electorate!
I thought Sinhalese intellctuals like Dayan Jayatileelke has realised that the even the SL style democracy is diminishing further, but here another one pops up and blaming the Tamils and the Tamil Party TNA for being undemocratic all these years and demanding or ordering what they should do.
dayapala
recently I've been reading your articles and thank you for your concern for peace in Sri lanka,
I'm shocked by:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGhMIgnwZuA
The Changing face of Wesak in Colombo and Militarizing Sri Lanka
Can you please see that this sort of things are removed from our schools and society.
While some arre trying to make pots , some others are making holes in them.
We will never have pots!!
Tamils have no choice but to understand and accept the following realities.
1.Sinhalese will never allow to divide the country.
2.Sinhalese will never accept Thimpu principals
3.Sinhalese are ready for a deal but a fair deal which will guarantee an undivided homeland for them(which is entire Sri Lanka)
4.Sinhalese want to maintain the unitory constitution to ensure their safety,wellbeing and religion.So any solution should be within a unitory framewaork where the Central Gvt is really strong.
If tamils are blind for this reality then they can grawl and say that they will struggle or 2020 Ealam war V.But the sufferings are also will be with them.
So it is in the best interest of the tamils to settle for a reasonable solution rather than struggling for unreasonable things.
Can a person born as a short person and if it is in his genetics,become a tall person??? Answer is no.
Good presentation. The military defeat of LTTE was not unexpected at all back here in India. We were feeling that it is just a matter of time. Too many of strategic as well as tactical errors for the war to end differently.
Anyway, asking the TNA too many questions about the past at the present juncture is unwarranted. Why rake up old issues. Why not think of future rather than go for nit picking about the past. How many of us are reminded of Rohana Wijeweera and his armed struggle against the elected government when we discuss the current politics of JVP?
Anand
In a unitary state, subnational units are created and abolished and their powers may be broadened and narrowed, by the central government. Although political power in unitary states may be delegated through devolution to local government by statute, the central government remains supreme; it may abrogate the acts of devolved governments or curtail their powers.
now that not what tamils want. singalese majority can have the contorl tamils day to day live.
if singalse can't understand this, not peace will come to any one.
1)singales want unitary state
2)tamil wants seperate country
now every one need to come down the middle and negotiate the settlement.
3) ferdaral model,
other wise
4) no peace in Lanka will be ACHIVED.
I thought you were a liberal democrat; I am wrong, you are another Sinhala chauvinist.
After 60 yrs of oppression, violence, pogrom, marginalization, merciless destruction of homeland of an ethnic group, economic blockade and deprivation, abuse, war crimes, and genocide and now you say to the Tamils you should now exist only as a piece of furniture.
Do you believe in Karma?
Our political analyst display a very poor understanding of what politks is.
It is not up to TNA to decide. It is up for people whom it is representing. The moment it loose the touch the ground reality, TNA will loose the representation.
Dear Dayapala Thiranagama,
"However, can the TNA be trusted as a democratic party? They have not announced any new policy or explained how they are going make changes to their old politics in the aftermath of the LTTE’s military defeat. The TNA can not survive as a democratic party of the Tamils without making changes to its political ideology inherited from its association with the LTTE and its allotted role as the silent partner of violent politics." In the same vain can the sinhala parties can be trusted to devolve power to Tamils after all this happning and they have not sjowed any shred of evidence yetany where in the horison. Tamils self determination should not be negotiable.Srilankan sinhala should devolve power to the Tamils if the srilanka to be governed as a single country with a condition failing to do that tamils should have selfdetermination to fall back.
Dear SriLankan, you have not learned the lesson yet do you want the happnings post 80s repeated in futur, or have your memory is very short.
Mr Thiranagama,
My congratulations - you have raised in a short article, important issues that have escaped the common run of journalists .
The TNA and the population as a whole must re-examine the basis of Tamil separatism and the homeland concept. We have a government today that is ready to accept the Sri lankan roots of all our ethnic groups, and re-emphasise the strength that can come from unity.
It takes a brave man to accept the follies of the past; Ranil has never admitted to the folly of disenchisement of the plantation workers or the racist slogans espoused in the immmediate aftermath of the 1956 defeat with marches to Kandy by hos uncle. it was Shell Company that used to carry Dudley's slogat 'I would not allow division of the country' in their billboard in 1964. Now TNA is hanging onto the coat tails, expecting miracles from the incumbents of the same set.
TNA should re-examine the past - Sankili period that converted hard working Sinhalese to a Tamil low caste while promoting the Tobacco growing immigrants to a new Brahmin class of Sri Lanka.
The writer while paying some lip-service to the TNA's record pre-supposes the TNA is in decline, which may not be the case.
The recent Jaffna MC elections and the Presidential Elections establish, given a free and non-coercive environment to exercise his francise, the Tamil voter in the NEP will opt for TNA than the gun-toting goons being groomed by the regime to destroy the Tamil voting unity we saw in 1977 and even later (2004) DT's belief "TNA's political honesty and democratic morality becomes dubious and questionable" falls by the wayside as the Tamil people know under what threats and a fascistic climate they (TNA) had to function when the LTTE held sway.
DT will personally know this because he survived the difficult days of his own comrades in the JVP. So did multiple thousands of patriotic Germans when Hitler's madness had overtaken that great country.
The argument "TNA is responsible for past violent acts of the LTTE" will not convince the Tamil people because they lost brilliant Tamil leaders like Neelan, Pararajasingham and many others in the post-90 period.
Neither will the charge "TNA did not permit any other group to function" hold water because the TNA itself is a coalition of different Tamil parties.
Though Sampanthan is thought to be cold and aloof, he is still the only of the earlier post-1983 Tamil leadership after the late Amirthalingam, Sivasithamparam, Yogeswaran et al who has leadership timber to lead the Tamil cause. Since then Suresh Premachandran and Mavai Senathirajah have blossomed.
EPRLF, TELO have strengthened the TNA (Jaffna, Mannar, the EP) while PLOTE of Sidharthan and friends have some say in the Vanni.
Douglas and the EPDP is no more than a damp squid as evidenced by his intention to quit politics. The least said of the EP quisling twins Karuna and Pillaiyan the better.
If democracy in its earlier flavour is to return even Colombo and Gampaha may return TNA MPs - if one correctly judges the mood of the Lankan Tamils other than those of recent Indian origin.
ISS
Mr Dayapala Thiranagama,
Sri Lankan state is a myth.Tamil political leadership should never on its own surrender sovereignty, why Tamils are coerced to surrender it by all quarters concerned, what are the historical and legal bases for claims of Tamil sovereignty in the island.
Just like the Sinhalese, Tamils also lost their sovereignty to the Portuguese but through a separate legal convention. The Tamils have not regained it like the Sinhalese but proved it de facto. After an unfair war, TNA or any other Eezham Tamil leadership should not make the historic blunder of again surrendering Tamil sovereignty.
Vino Gamage,
See what the SLA soldiers doing to entertain them selves for vesak,to de(in)seminate Buddhas teachings.
A nine year old ethnic Tamil girl has been raped by three suspected Sri Lanka Army soldiers, reports say.
The victim is a grade five student of Sitthandi Digili Vellei School in Madakalapu. Girl was admitted to the Mawadiwembu hospital.
Army Media Spokesman Major Prasad Samarasinghe confirmed to media, that the girls' mother has been filed a complaint in police regarding the crime.
Meanwhile Body of a man who protested against the rape found near in nearby lake, report said further.
According to reports, a group of soldiers went to house to house and threat villagers who protested against the crime. Commodore soldiers are questioning the girl frequently victim, reports said.
Is this Mr Thiranagama is trying to promote.
Dear Davidson Panabokke
"Tamils' change of mind has had no bearing on the course of Sri lankan politics for 62 years" You have absolutely hit the nail on the head. You have learned the histry well.
Can Mahavamsa majoritarian Sinhalese mind set capable of ''seismic shift'' shift ever?????
Will the Sinhala politicians ,Monks, educators or the Pseudo Intelectuals allow it to change??
The writer seems to shove the sixty year political struggle of the Tamils under the carpet with her impassioned entreaty to the TNA that it must disavow separatist politics and accept a political solution within a unitary state.
Well, let me remind that separatist politics was the making of the insensitive Singhala chauvinist politicians seeing fit to exploit the Singhala polity with a myopic perspective rarely digressing beyond the next ballot. Umpteen modalities for power sharing with the minority Tamils, within a unitary state, were put forward and none of them satisfied the Singhala politicians. In their frustration, having to deal with the Tamil minority issue, kept very much alive by the Tamil politicians too , perhaps also to serve their own political ambitions, the Singhala leaders and the aspiring ones including Sarath Fonseka even went as far to declare the Island as belonging to the Singhalese only.
And now Dayapala Thiranagama advocates a fresh start for the TNA , spelling nothing other than changing the begging bowl. Please , let the entreaties be directed to the majority community prevailing it to discard communal politics once and for all and accept Tamils for what they really are, equal partners, in the land they too have been calling home for ages.
There is no DEMOCRATIC CULTURE in the whole of Sri Lanka!!!!! The author is not worried about it. I think he should spend his energy and resources to improve good governance from Mahinda's government!! What we have now in Sri Lanka is JUNGLE LAW!!!
If there is good governance in Sri Lanka everything will be peaceful. First of all put an end to abduction, polical murders, thuggery, torture, extrajudicial killings, rape, arrest without reason etc.
If every citizen is treated equal irrespective of language, religion, democracy will be maintained throught out the country.
Can the author vouch for a fair and free election in the first place? Can he eradicate nepotism?
" Colombo and Gampaha may return TNA MPs "
You are dead right mate, given the population imbalance specially in Colombo.
If the TNA is a democratic party which did not bow down to a megalomaniac dictator and adopted the role of their political wing there is nothing wrong with that.
TNA could even join the government and help run the country towards development and prosperity and that is the way forward.
Considering the pathetic state the UNP is in after the recent manipulations of the current leader. most Sinhala people will abandon the UNP and vote for Fonseka led JVP.If the TNA contest the election with a new platform under a genuine leader with vision of peace and prosperity of his or her people under a united Srilanka.it has an even money chance to become the opposition
But the current geriatric leader who jumped off Prab,s lap right on to Fonseka's shoulder does not show any integrity and vision. He is just a political oppertunist who is trying to save his ass until the nature takes its course.
This is well demonstrated by the current mayhem among the TNA members who had been herded together for a long time by the current leader under the orders of the late Mr VP.
Mr Sengutuwan must be looking at the TNA in a strange angle not to see that nine ex parliamentary members have parted ways with the leader.
Kalu Albert,
First of all before challenging TNA, can you dislodge the present government from power by democratic means!!!! You cannot, as long as there is vote rigging, using govt. resources for propaganda, Killing, arresting political opponents, bribing, imprisoning people without reason, ransom demanding, abduction etc. etc.
You seem to blind to this govt.'s faults!!!!Take your blinkers off!!!