Nirupama Rao in Colombo
by Rajan Philips
Within ten days of stick-handling India’s first formal diplomatic talks with Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao is on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, reportedly on the invitation of the Sri Lankan government. According to Indian media reports, she will “push for a political settlement of the vexed ethnic issue between the Sinhalese and Tamils”. Observers have also noted that Rao’s visit comes in the backdrop of External Affairs Minister, S.M. Krishna, noting in Rajya Sabha that India had stressed to the Sri Lankan government ``the necessity" of reaching a political settlement acceptable to all the communities including the Tamils.
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao-pic courtesy: V. Sudershan-The Hindu
After the high-profile and high-stakes diplomatic encounter with Pakistan, Nirupama Rao may be treating her Sri Lankan visit as a well earned sojourn. No one will begrudge her sense of entitlement in that regard. Colombo and Sri Lanka have been Ms Rao’s diplomatic home away from home beginning from the 1980s. She was India’s High Commissioner for India in Colombo during the eventful years of 2004-2006, when governments changed and the pretence of a peace process mindlessly morphed into a full-blooded war.
The war is over but the search for a political settlement continues. This was emphasized by Mr. Krishna in his reply to a written question in the Indian Upper House: "The government (of India) is of the view that the conclusion of the military operations in Sri Lanka provides an opportunity to make a new beginning and pursue a lasting political settlement in Sri Lanka." He went on add that "the necessity of reaching a political settlement has been stressed to the Sri Lankan government."
Ms. Rao will need to do more than stressing in Colombo. Political critics like this writer have not spared anything in taking the Sri Lankan government to task for its unwillingness to shift from war-mode to political-mode. There might be more than unwillingness involved here, for even if the government were to suddenly become willing to make that transition, it may not quite know what to do next. The present Sri Lankan government needs all the help to get out of a situation that would be daunting even to a very willing government. No one else is better located to offer that help than New Delhi.
To say this is not to grovel for India’s help, but to emphasize the objective circumstances in which the two countries find themselves in. Sri Lanka cannot do anything politically constructive on its own, and India cannot afford to let Sri Lanka slip into permanent atrophy. One would only hope that Ms. Rao’s visit will mark the beginning of a new engagement between the countries that is more consistent and purposive than it has been in the recent past.
No need to be modest
"Our aims were modest" Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said after concluding her discussions with the Pakistan Foreign Secretary. In Colombo, her aims need not be modest. She knows Colombo’s politics well, and Sri Lankan politicians will be taking their numbers in the line-up for an audience with her. Outside the government retinue, Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe will lead the pack. What would he do if he were to do politics without seeing diplomats? There would of course be the Tamil politicians and candidates who all gearing up for the April vote. The closer they are seen with Ms. Rao, the better will be their vote prospects – so they will figure.
According to Indian reports, Ms Rao is expected to urge for the early resettlement of the Tamils displaced in the 26-year-long war between government troops and Tigers, which ended in May, 2009. I would urge that the question of resettlement is treated as more than a matter of numbers. Resettlement should be the logical starting point for institutional rebuilding in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. In the Eastern Province, there is ‘a’ Provincial Council, but none in the Northern Province. The government should be advised to engage, in the resettlement programs, the parliamentary representatives whom the people in the two provinces will elect in April.
It would be counterproductive and undemocratic for the government to by-pass them and implement resettlement programs through government agencies. Already, the agencies that are tasked with resettlement have little or no Tamil presence, and they are still controlled by military officials and not civilian personnel. Changing this status quo, and making resettlement Tamil-participatory at all levels, requires no special effort or constitutional changes: only presidential willingness and administrative follow-through. The worst of all actions will be to prematurely precipitate a Provincial Council election in the North before the people are resettled.
There is another matter, a growing social problem in Jaffna, which the Indian visitor should admonish Colombo officials about. The end of the war has turned Jaffna into an object of curiosity. Large numbers of people from the south have been visiting Jaffna, partly to visit temples but mostly to see what the people of Jaffna look like, post-LTTE. In the absence of proper facilities to accommodate them, the southern tourists are turning the town’s few public spaces into makeshift tourist camps. Their curious eyes apparently do not spare even the privacy of homes. Young girls riding bikes are helpless targets of vulgar whistling and eve-teasing by male tourists. There could be backlash if these indiscretions go unchecked, and people will get hurt. Jaffna has gone through enough. It can at least be spared new insults while it struggles to recover from old injuries.
34 Comments
I see this as a calculated move or a ploy by Rajapakshe brothers to create an impression during the election among at least Tamil voters that they are also interested in a political solution for the Tamils.
Indians are simpley caught in the trap. They have to play to the tune of Rajapakse brothers. The Chinese are looking and Rajapakse brothers know about this.
Stanislaus
India is the biggest protector of the brutal Rajapaksa regime in the international scene. More so than China or Russia. Given Totalitarian China's awful human rights record, China's support for the Rajapaksa regime does not add any credibility to the regime's HR record. But India's blind backing of the regime undermines any scrutiny of its HR record and democratic credentials and allows the regime to continue acting brutally with absolutely no accountability. As we read from the recent Inner City Press reports, it is India that is blocking any real UN investigation of the carnage that occurred in the first five months of 2009 where thousands of innocent Tamil civillians were killed. So don't expect anything from Rao's visit except for some lies about wanting a solution. India will continue to dance to Sri Lanka's political tune as long as it serves India's business interests. But when this policy threatens India's security interests, it will be too late. They are amateurs compared to the Chinese.
Mr. Philips,
I do belive that people like you can contribute to the process. Do not be so impatient. Only 10 months have gone after the war ended. The Parliament had run out of time and a fresh mandate is needed to start the political process. Otherwise the political process will be conducted with an eye on winning the election rather than on the minority issues that you are interested in.
It is unfortunate that people like you forgot everything and went after a common candidate based on a belief that was a short-cut to Eelam.
The attitude is Stupid and Spineless at best!
Wolf whistling at Jafnaista's on bikes could lead to a yet another highly profitable and suicidal armed insurrection with a little help from Ms Rao!
Somebody gonna get hurt, again, if you don’t do this and that…!
The attitude is unbearable to say the least.
Wolf whistling at Jafnaista's on bikes could lead to a yet another highly profitable and suicidal armed insurrection with a little help from Ms Rao!
Somebody gonna get hurt, again, if you don’t do this and that…!
India`s most crucial objective should be the regaining of Sri Lanka into her hitherto unquestioned orbit of influence - in her capacity as the regional power in the Indian Ocean Rim. She clearly has lost this to China - who has cunningly brought in Pakistan to the equation to India`s clear chagrin. That process of weakening India also had much contribution from within India as well.
VP Singh made his own tribute to the subsequent collapse of the 1987 Indo-Lanka Agreement in that now familiar give-no-quarter battle between coalitions lead by the Congress Party and the Opposition. That Delhi wallahs of the South Bloc -once considered ethereal and infallible - have failed in their Sri Lanka policy.
To hear former Foreign Minister Shankar Menon dismiss the String of Pearls strategy of China as ``over-emphasised`` was surprising - because a sub-stratum of this objective is to sorround India - and, that is now well established. Briefly, in a theatre where only a few years ago, India was the sole foreign player and now she has to share the role with China and Pakistan - not as equal partners either.
Ms Nirupama Rao, in her talks with the Lankan side, also may remind the Rajapakse regime the TransNational Govt of Tamil Eelam Project is gaining credibility on its way to possible recognition. One way to abort this will be to be more objective in an urgent manner in providing internal devolution to the NEP (allowed to all other Provinces but the NEP) and the various priorities listed by Anandasangaree`s TULF and the TNA in recent weeks - not to mention release of HSZ farms/houses, the repeal of the Emergency Regulations - among many others.
In asking for the army to be increased to 300,000 - while Gen. Sarath Fonseka was in uniform - and bringing in large numbers of Sinhala soldiers to massive military camps in the NEP - well after the War is over - the formation of Sinhala villages with Buddhist temples, schools etc are all poorly disguised designs to render the Tamil majority in the province to minority status.
This is a continuing process of subtle State-aided colonisation that began in the 1950s and has, in may ways, realised its initial objectives. Its now on fast mode. These also belie what the Govt at its higher levels assures India and the world in their supposed fond hope of bringing back the Tamil people to their fold. Mrs Rao, of course, cannot tell her hosts that much of this is done now to keep the actual focus of the people away from the crushing Cost of Living issue because the people have so far been fed with a regular diet of Provincial and other elections.
Ms Rao will realise Sri Lanka- and all her people - need much more than a single effort to improve their English competency - at once stage at a much higher average level than India's - to regain the racial-religious equilibrium the country lost in 1956 at a point in our post-Independent history when Sinhalese was elevated to super levels (I do not question this move- that is long due but which should have been done differently) and English relegated. Many suspect this is one of the prime causes for much of the tears that we now shed as a fractured society.
Many of her friends will welcome the return of this good friend of Sri Lanka - poet, writer, musician
and delightful conversationalist - among other versatalities of this able diplomat.
ISS
Yes, Mr. Philips has "taken he government to task" asking for a political settlement. But he has never asked that the LTTE-mindset of the Tamil racist parties be modified. The Vaddukkodai resolution which talks of ``exclusive Tamil homelands" will never be accepted by the Majority in this country.
If you morp the argument to another country, as Sebastian Rasalingam and other writers have pointed out, if the Hispanics in the USA had asked for California to be declared a "an exclusive Hispanic homeland", all hell would break out in the USA. Much of the Tamil-Sinhlala problem are created by the obduracy within our own Tamil intelligentsia.
Mr. Philips belongs to the Privilaged Colombo Tamil class which wagered the economic well-being of the ordinary Tamils in return for sovereignist (Arasu) power. If in 1952 the Federal party had honestly campaigned for federalism all over the island, even the Kandyan Sinhalese would have probably joined us and perhaps Federalism would have happened. But in reality our Tamil leaders talked of Federalism in Colombo and Sovereign power in Jaffna, even in 1952.
So, today when enormous ethnic polarization has occurred, does MR. Philips expect the fully-powered Sinhala majority to trust us, with our making absolutely no moves to win that trust?
I live in Mt. Lavinia and I want to live peacefully with the Sinhalese. This is not possible as long as we talk of "EXCLUSIVE" Tamil homelands, and object to Sinhalese living in the North, calling it ``colonization". Even though my grandparents came from Mavittapuram, I have no wish to return there. My home is Mt Lavinia and my homeland is Sri lanka. Does Mr. Sampanthan or Mr. Philips say that I am colonizing Mt. Lavinia?. If we tamils are not willing to exercise fairness, the Sinhalese will have no reason to be fair either.
India is yet to do anything substantive for the Tamil community other than paying lip service and supporting the Govt. What is required is the direct involvement of the Indian govt in the resettlement, rebuilding and reconstruction effort of the villages in the North-NorthEast. Giving aid to the Govt does not bear any results.
Here are just two observations:
The writer laments,
... ... during the eventful years of 2004-2006, when governments changed and the pretence of a peace process mindlessly morphed into a full-blooded war.
... ... The war is over but the search for a political settlement continues.
Here is my contention:
If one would describe the peace process as a pretence, how rational is the thinking, 'but the search ' continues.
If the process was never begun, what room is there for continuity!
Here is yet another:
Sri Lanka cannot do anything politically constructive on its own, and India cannot afford to let Sri Lanka slip into permanent atrophy.
In my opinion, both presumptions are morbid.
Sri Lanka, of recent, has shown some astute political dexterity. India has fallen behind, not by any inaction but by the recklessness of its action.
The shake-up India has introduced now into her foreign affairs make-up is a recognition of that slumber!
It is interesting to note that Mr. Rajan Philips, does NOT want the Sinhalese tourists to even go to the
"exclusive" Tamil North. Surely, if the Tamils could organize a whole war, can they not organize a few toilets to handle the influx of tourists? Which impoverished community does not like tourists coming to their community? The poor Jaffna man likes the tourist influx, because his produce can be sold at good prices. Girls being whistled at is a passing phenomenon and nothing compared to the strictures placed on women in jaffna society that Mr. Philips surely knows of.
The complaints made by Mr. Philips are simply a result of the mentality of a certain generation of Colombo Tamils who regarded Jaffna as their own exclusive private domain, into which no Sinhalese or Muslim or even low-caste Tamil owners should come in. Actually, THIS IS THE NATIONAL PROBLEM OF SRI LANKA. Let the Jaffna man settle his destiny, without these Colombo Tamils messing it up, as they have done since the beginning of the 20th century.
When the Colombo Tamils came to Sivakumaran's funeral, they were given the slipper and insulted by the "boys" who became the LTTE. That is, even when the political objectives of the LTTE and the Colombo Tamils agreed, the Jaffna people preferred to break free from the fetters imposed by the Colombo Tamils. One day, true Tamil leaders will arise from the soil of Jaffna. Until then, we have a rudderless community with the Sampanthans, Rajan Philips and others continuing to sound the old clarion call which failed.
I feel that this report is very much biased.
We visited Jaffna recently and we felt that the governement is doing the best possible. Still the mine clearing is going on.
It is very unfair to say that the visitors from Jaffna behaves badly. We from the south felt that we were always welcome there.
There were many tourists from the south, males with bare bodies and thunnur on their forheads splashing coconuts in front of Nallur kovil. That was a welcome sight for the Jaffna people.
In Jaffna everywhere you can see boards written in sinhalese informing that rooms are available for temporary accommodation.
The relationship was very cordial.
Of course this type of interaction between south and north will not be seen positively by the separatists, but the common man from north and south have no problems.
It is the separatists and politicians with their own agendas who want to divide the people.
It is very tragic.
Ravi
Nirupama Rao is from Kerala and is a good buddy of Percy Mugabe.
It was she who warned Percy Mugabe that Lasantha was going to write about the Guruvayur Temple debacle.
Lasantha did write about it.
The rest is history!
Ravi Jayantha,
the common man from north and south have no problems
Really?
Would you like to live in an open prison?
Why do you need 40,000 Sinhala thugs in army uniform in Jaffna?
To look after whose interests?
Why does a Tamil man need an entrance and exit visa to visit home?
Did you ever think about this?
Have you herd about HSZ?
Did you ever visit the HSZ?
As ISS pointed, Vaddukodai resolution is gaining momentum in the Western countries. Initially I dismissed this idea, but now I realise it is a very good idea. In Australia they are having the polls on 17 and 18 April. Polls are conducted by an Independent company. Having said that, India is bit worried about this and India never expected this type of thing. In addition, USA and UK are highly involved in a political solution "Power sharing". For example, Kurds were very badly treated in Iraq so many years ago. All of a sudden, US came into the equation. So things can turn at any time.
Mr ISS as usual puts in his arguments for the hidden agenda of mini Eelaam every time an opportunity arises.
Srilanka's land mass is very small to support an increasing population. Least populated areas in the north and the east are the best places to accommodate the ever increasing demand for land to live.
Even in developed countries incentives to move people to less populated areas is a common practice.Mr ISS does not agree to this well established practice as his and the LTTE aim is to keep these areas for themselves and still live in Colombo.He seems to be quite content with hundreds of Tamil temples dotting Colombo and the outline areas..
India has to live with China peacefully and amicably whether it is to their liking or not.China is the third most powerful nation and it would not be a surprize she becomes the second soon.
Srilanka can not afford to put all the eggs in one basket and Rajapaksas rightly so, are smart enough to understand this fact, and act accordingly.
This is more important than ever in light of the dubious schemes that are being hatched in Western capitals with the open encouragement of their Governments to destabilize Srilanka and harm its economy.
Being a senior member of the left of center Congress government, I am sure this lady is up to scratch with regards to the British and some European government's dealings with the pro Tigers even after their demise in Srilanka.After all the Congress lost their beloved Leader and a good Son of their Nation to a LTTE suicde bomb.
Dspite Mr ISS's grumblings the majority Sinhalese know that their current rightful place in the country they enjoy, is the result of their entitlement to pursue their education in the mother tongue instead of the foreign language that was used to keep the majority suppressed for centuries.
"My home is Mt Lavinia and my homeland is Sri lanka. Does Mr. Sampanthan or Mr. Philips say that I am colonizing Mt. Lavinia?."
The issue is not your living in Mt. Lavinia. You are there on your own and with your own money. We have no quarrel with you(if you were there in 1958, 1977 or 1983 then some pious Buddist might have had some quarrel with you is another side of it). When your stay is state sponsored with tax payers money then it is an issue.
Many of the irrigation schemes would disappear if there were no continuous state subsidy. This is where other issues come in.
K.Easwaran
If Jafna boys did not encourage the fashion conscious Jafnaistas to strap bombs on to their chests during the ''struggle'', there may not have been such curiosity on the part of visitors to this back end of civilization. The search for ‘what made this closely-knit Jaffna community to donate its bicycling Bubby Archchies in large numbers towards the highest amount of suicide hits ever recorded in the history the world index’ will continue, despite the harsh conditions as explained in the article.
Let us just hope this search continue with vigour, leading to greater understanding and much favorable conditions.
The idea of creating conditions to bring unmanned drones followed by Kafirs, to carry out this search and understanding, yet again, cannot be in the interest of anyone, surely!
How can one take serious when main political message in the article is dissatisfaction of the alleged wolf whistles of the young Southern lads at the Jaffna chicks riding bicycles.
If he can,t find anything more substantial to convince the Indian Official of the alleged anti democratic, anti political and dictatorial behavior of the Rajapksa regime then, Ms Rao will be wasting her time holding press conferences for this mob.
Ms Rao's government backed Rajapaksa and that was proved to be the right decision not only by the gigantic majority which reinstated the President for another seven years,but also by the pathetic situation of the opposition that was backed by the Western allies to the hilt.
The fragmentation,bickering and infighting among the coalition partners themselves and the unraveling saga of corruption nepotism and under hand deals of the Coalition leader vividly demonstrates the caliber and the motives of these supposed saviours of the Motherland.
Indian government is not going to pay attention to these unfounded allegations against their chosen leadership for Srilanka.She will meet Ranils and Sanpathans as a matter of courtesy but that is not going to affect the relationship India has with Rajapaksa.
we can't take a lighter tone on her, just because she appear as a simple n modern diplomat.
Nirupama Menon Rao is also a partner in the genocide of Tamils. she was there in Colombo while rajapakshe visit india for the first time.
Nirupama Menon Rao
Shiv Shankar Menon
M K Narayan
A K Antony
P. Chithambaram
Vijay Nambiar, list continues..
Tamils can't/ won't forgot all these contract killers. now these people open gate for China to land in Tamil Nadu. Chinese are living in Kachateevu now. soon they step in Tamil Nadu to make another slaughter over Tamils, this time Tamil Nadu.
What's wrong with the idea of state planned and tax payer funded programme to regenerate a backward region of the country,which needs skilled labour and investment. Also, it severs a greater social purpose like community cohesion, ethnic integration and stronger society. The root cause of all the terror related sufferings of the past is partly to do with Jafnans inability to co exit in preference to self imposed segregation.
Jafna's tribal attitude was great at producing Bra bombers, but potential for a slightly better use of Jafna bodies must be high and should be explored. Otherwise, TN as the backward and tribal epicentre, should be promoted with tax money as a great
destination among Jafnans.
What's wrong with the idea of state planned and tax payer funded programme to regenerate a backward region of the country,which needs skilled labour and investment. Also, it severs a greater social purpose like community cohesion, ethnic integration and stronger society. The root cause of all the terror related sufferings of the past is partly to do with Jafnans inability to co exit in preference to self imposed segregation.
Jafna's tribal attitude was great at producing Bra bombers, but potential for a slightly better use of Jafna bodies must be high and should be explored. Otherwise, TN as the backward and tribal epicentre, should be promoted with tax money as a great destination among tribal and all within ones family minded Jafnans.
destination among Jafnans.
Kalu Albert's belief Ms Nirupama Rao/FS GoI is part of the Congress Govt is just as misplaced as many of
his errors in judgement in issues one reads in this blog, where he is a keen commentor. My aim is to see Sri Lanka maintains her territorial integrity - and, comment accordingly, where necesssary. It is upto the GoSL, keen citizens like KA to re-examine matters in perspective and restore unity and peace. Stalking and abuse will not realise this.
ISS
Nadesan | March 6, 2010 09:04 AM,
You are a selfish b...., who is prepared to lick the the a...,of MR,GR, brothers for the crums they leave you.And you have no idea of what is in The Vaddukkodai resolution, what is state sponsored colonisation and what is natural migration,what is state sponsored terrorism,or liberation of an opressed nation,self determination ,and the history of post Independent Srilanka. On the whole your are an Idiot.
I lived ,studied,played,very close to Mavittapuram, and prayed in the temple in Mavittapuram and relaxed in Keerimali Now it has been colonised by SL army thugs and their families useing Taxpayers money (sorry borrowed/beged money from foreign countries or stealing from Tamil's homes)While your are licking the crums left by MR and co and living probably on your grand parents hard earned wealth in Mt Lavinia. or Do you believe your grand parents were colonised by the Government of Srilanka useing taxpayers money?
Mr. Easwaran mentions about "state sponsoring".
85% of the people live in the south, and 95% of the taxes and government revenue come from those areas. The government is spending money to develop the NE area, fund the IDPs, clean the mines laid by the LTTE using the money of the misguided Tamil diaspora. In my view, just as I live in Mt. lavinia, I would like to see some Sinhalese settle in Mavattipuram, my grand parent's village.
It is such multi-culturalism that will ensure lasting ethnic peace.
But the Sinhalese won't go up North unless they are given some inducements, while every Tamil who makes it good wants to come to Colombo and eventually go to Canada.
So state sponsoring is not only justified, but very much needed. But also unfortunately for Easwaran, that is how it will work as 95% of the taxes come from the south. Tamil culture is strong enough, and fully developed in Tamil Nadu, and so we have no fear of loosing it. This type of threat exists in every country, anywhere in the world, with a majority and a minority.
When the White Ango-Saxon protestants (WASPS) colonized the largely Hispanic western USA, that too was driven by the industrial, demographic and economic power of the East-coast establishment in the USA. What is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan is still this WASP movement.
The 12% Tamils in SL cannot hope to exclusively reserve two provinces and 2/3 of the coastline just for themselves, against the 75% sinhala and largely bi-lingual Muslims. Any politics based on such racial reserves is bound to fail, just as the Apartheid (live apart) policy of South Africa failed, even though the whites had the money and the guns - they did not have the numbers. The LTTE also tried the same trick, with Diaspora money and guns.
The Tamils don't have the numbers, and Tamil politicians don't have brains or cunning. Educated commentators like Rajan Phillps are too fossilized and prejudiced in their thinking of Tamil nationalism to see beyond their noses. WE HAVE A NEW SITUATION IN SL TODAY, DIFFERENT FROM THE DAYS OF VADUUKKODDAI. Is their a new Tamil political thinker who can match the challenge?
_____________________
Rajan Philips responds:
Mr. Nadesan,
It is not possible to have a productive conversation when you take a line from my article in isolation and ride into the desert – that is your knowledge of history - discovering goats that have nothing to do with the article posted above. You are not the only goat discoverer in that regard, for you are in a sizable company of equal or worse internet ignoramuses.
Before jumping to conclusions about fossils and prejudices and attributing them to me, you should go back to my earlier articles on this website where I have dealt with the LTTE, the Vaddukoddai Resolution and the need to avoid confusing the Sinhalese people with the Sri Lankan government, as well as avoid confusing the Tamil people with the LTTE.
For my part, I will try to revisit these matters in future articles. As a famous Sri Lankan lawyer once told a rather dim witted judge, “I can explain and expound, but I cannot pass on the power of understanding!”
- Rajan Philips
No "Nadesan" will ever spell 'Mavattipuram' like that.
"85% of the people live in the south, and 95% of the taxes and government revenue come from those areas."
The above statement clearly indicates that the state did not develope the Tamil areas so that they could develope business and pay tax.
"The government is spending money to develop the NE area, fund the IDPs, clean the mines laid by the LTTE using the money of the misguided Tamil diaspora."
Come on man, do you think that SL army was not laying mines? Do you know that Sri Lanka Government refused to ratify the treaty to ban land mines?
Sri Lanka Government created the IDPs.Who are the IDPs? People like "panamkottai | March 7, 2010 09:27 AM" who were chased away from their homes. Who chased them away?
"But the Sinhalese won't go up North unless they are given some inducements, while every Tamil who makes it good wants to come to Colombo and eventually go to Canada."
You do not know what you are writing about. Canadian gates are not wide open to Tamils. Furthermore, more Sinhalese are migrating to Canada than Tamils nowadays. Thanks to Sri Lanka state policy, Tamils were refused University entrance even when they had more marks and that resulted in lesser professionals from Tamil community. Mostly professionals are allowed into Canada and that is why more Sinhalese are migrating to Canada nowadays.
Your comparision of USA West Coast example is a very pathetic one. There is no rule of law in Sri Lanka and the rule of law is the engine drives USA and Canada. Every municipality and Towns have their own police force to enforce rule of law in USA and Canada. Even the Prime Minister would be booked by the local police if he/she happened to violate the law. Everyone is a creature of law, god come second when you violate the law. If there would have been rule of law in Sri Lanka, then Tamils would not have resorted to arms. They would have rather gone to courts. A black could not sit in the front seats in a bus in 1960s in the States.
What is the position now? Do you know the person by the name Obama and his colour? Japanese were interned by the then Govenor of the West Coast during the second world war. The same person later became the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the States. There he gave the land mark verdict, 9-0, that Separate but equal concept is in violation of the constitution in 1950s. Then Blacks used the law to eradicate racial hurdles. In Sri Lanka the justice department is in the forefront to damage Tamils with the clergies. You better know another fact that there are reservations for native Americans and native Canadians. They rule supreme there. They are doing well or not is another issue.
"The 12% Tamils in SL cannot hope to exclusively reserve two provinces and 2/3 of the coastline just for themselves, against the 75% sinhala and largely bi-lingual Muslims." This argument does not hold water. We were living separately till both of us were colonized by the West.
Portuguese defeated Tamils to capture Jaffna, they did not battle Sinhalese to capture Jaffna. We lived as neighbours but separately, not as a single country. If it is mere mathematical proportions, then Sri lanka could claim part of Canada saying that Canada of about 30million population could not own such a huge area. You know what would happen to a claim of that sort. Maintain the status quo when we were colonized by the West. My inner feeling is that you would not never see the light as your mind set is to see what you want to see.
K.Easwaran
"My aim is to see Sri Lanka maintains her territorial integrity "Mr Segutuan,
How can a person who is hell bent on getting the North and the East as exclusine Tamil homelands ,can safe guard the territorial integrity of Srilanka.
May be he is referring to a new and legit parallel Navy similar to the formidable LTTE sea Tiger unit, and helping the SL navy to safe guard the NE coastline.
Rajapaksa regime is well on its way to achieve the aim of permanant peace and liberty of all Srilankans irrespective of race, caste or religion, despite all the obstacles put in by the pro tiger Tamil lobby both lical and overseas and their Western allies as well as the elite Srilankan community who hate Rajapaksa with passion.
According to the "Hindu," the discussions of Ms Rao have been very successful and I am sure the Indian government under the visionary leadership of Mr Manmohan Sigh will help safe guard Srilanka from unsavoury Western threats guide Rajapaksa to achieve his goals over the next seven years.
Panamkottai.
Excellent comments.
Are you aware of the fact that King Percy Mugabe's niece is married to a Nadesan?
Mr Phillips has spat the dummy.
To use sarcasm is a cheap ploy to deflect valid and practical points from keen.intelligent and patriotic people whose only interest is the welfare, wellbeing and prosperity of all citizens especially the poor rural folk who have a long journey to catch up with the well heeled elite Srilankans.
It is very nice to see these tourists coming. It will help the poor Jaffna people get employment at hotels!
Some development aid to build a railway should help them travel to the rest of the country.
Also why don't we allow the 40,000 Sinhalese troops in Jaffna to bring their wives with them. I think the soldiers should be able to live with their families in Palaly base. This will better the living conditions of the soldiers who protect the Tamils from the defunct LTTE.
The Indian FM shouldn't suggest undue things such as devolution. This must be one of those Indian schemes to divide the island. I am sure the Chinese wouldn't demand such undue things that interfere with the Sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
The Diaspora shouldn't impose their bloody agenda on the poor innocent Tamils.
Violence should not be fought with violence. Violence should be fought with pacts and satyagraha. Tamils accomplished so much more from the SJV's nonviolent methods and the Banda-Chelva pact etc. The Sinhalese responded so well to these methods.
In future, Tamils should be deferential to the Sinhalese. And not even launch such protests etc.
Then Tamils will all be happy like the commentator named Nadesan. Jaffna people are frugal and will happily survive off the breadcrumbs that fall off of Rajapaksa's table.
And Tamil people don't have to feel insecure about misuse of state power against them. Times have changed and the Sinhalese are much more open minded than they were in 1970s and 80s etc.
For example, in the last phase of the war, the Sinhalese leaderships made sure that there was a zero civilian casualty policy. And Rajapaksa stopped using artillery during the last 40 days. This was because he was engaging in purely a civilian rescue operation and he wanted minimum collateral damage.
I think we should all just start living like Nadesan, he seems to be happy.
My friend Kalu Albert:
The way to sustained peace and unity is based on the acceptance of that part of Sri Lanka (NEP) that was inhabited by Tamils as the predominant community upto the arrival of the Portugese in the 16th century - and till now. Different Sri Lanka Govts accepted this reality when the Govt's writ to maintain law and order country-wide became questionable in 1958, 1977 1983 and even 2 years ago - if you know what I mean.
Forced colonisation in the EP (now directed at the NP)
changing Manalaru to Weli-Oya, Amparai to Ampara or, Digamedulla, ancient Kadirgamam to Kataragama (and soon Yaalpanam to Yapane) will, understandably, be resisted irrespective of whether the Tigers are gone or not. Reason must prevail here, even at this late stage.
The alternative of a totally Separate State is something I am not in favour of - although many others, weary of the failure of all other avenues,may not agree with me. How I wish I can celebrate with you soon "Mahinda Rajapakse Govt is on its way to achieve permanent peace and unity" If this happens we will not need the alternatives you despise and I look upon as one in the absence of none other.
"My home is Mt Lavinia and my homeland is Sri lanka. Does Mr. Sampanthan or Mr. Philips say that I am colonizing Mt. Lavinia?."
This is a typical selfish statement. You have changed your town of birth from Mavittapuram to Mt.Lavinia very good that was your choice. If any Sinhalese wants to go and buy house and property in any part of Jaffna or Vanni is okay for us. But state aided colonization with the protection of the armed forces is wrong. Tamils have been living and doing business in Colombo and the surrounding areas for ages. They were not planted by the government but they bought houses and business and living there peacefully for a long time. Do you know happened to some of them in 1958, 1966, 1967 and 1983?? Who do you blame for this not the Singhalese people they are much better than the average Tamils but the politician and the government they organized these riots they killed innocent Tamils in hundreds and destroyed their homes and property. Do you want similar thing to happen in the North and East if we allow this state sponsored colonization to continue. I am sure you know the answer better.
ISS
You should agree the fact that for peace to sustain,the Sinhalease should be 30-40% of the population of North province and East province.This is the reality today.The entire country should be a multicultural.No province should be limited to one race.
So do not talk nonsence without accepting this reality.
May I remind "PP" a minority like the Tamils of Lanka (now around 15% of the population) can in no way swamp the Sinhalese (over 75%)or pose any danger to their culture or religion. But moves like that of Army's Sarath Fonseka in recent months - where he insisted on an army of 300,000, large camps, new settlements, buddhist temples etc in the NEP after the LTTE was finished make Tamils fear there are moves to ensure their gradual extinction. This plan of Fonseka apparently had the support and encouragement of the Fonseka Brothers and all their supporters. Fonseka is virtually gone but the thoughts appear to have taken root in places that matter in the country. This is what the Tamils as a race in the country cannot come to terms with. This is why they ask India and the world to assure their protection since successive SL Govts have failed them.
ISS