No Tamil political party has overwhelming support of Tamil people as the TULF did in 1977
by Tarrin Constantine
Thirty years of armed struggle and the ‘Disney Land’ dream of the Liberation Tiger’s being made to ‘bite the dust’, the people of the North and East are striving to progress with what was left behind.
Busloads of Sinhalese are flocking to the Northern Province daily. The entire stretch of Pannai Bridge is flooded with tourist buses from the South. People from distance places sitting in barren lands and eating food parcels brought by them is a common scenario in the Jaffna peninsula nowadays. Army personal manning sentry points could be seen sleeping, leaving their weapons at rest. In places like Pandaitherippu, Sillalai and Chandillipai people speaking Sinhalese are roaming the street even in the night. These villages had never seen Sinhalese in the past, except few bakery owners. The liquor bars in Kayts and Pandaitherippu are being run by the Sinhalese. Sinhalese hawkers are selling plastic chairs and goods imported from China in the pavement of Jaffna town.
Besides the fact that how the country is going to prosper with such large contingent of security personal present in every nook and corner of the peninsula, there is no indication that the Jaffna man is bothered about the intrusion of Sinhalese into their landmass.
I do not see Jaffna today as I saw it in the 1980’s. It prompts me to think as if the phrase ‘armed struggle’ is a filthy term. Today if somebody attempts to conduct political awareness classes in villages with grenade tied to the waist, as it happened in the 1980’s, there is no doubt the person will be beaten up by the villagers and handed over to the army. This is the real situation in Jaffna today. Briefly stating, the situation resembles the Tamil proverb ‘better don’t let the dog rather than giving alms’.
The buses to Jaffna through the A9 road are starting from many places in Colombo . One way charges vary from Rs.1000/- to Rs. 2,150/-. Buses with the name board ‘Vaddakin Natham’ (Melody of the North) are starting in front of the office of Minister Douglas Devananada.
These bus services are not luxury ones as advertised. I could well remember the buses operated by K.Gunaratnam 30 years ago; they were hundred percent better than the buses in operation today. The air conditioning in the buses is not functioning properly and even the lights are not properly lit. To some extent we must accept the fact that we cannot expect all the comforts of a luxury bus service for a fare of around Rs.2000/-. The bus that starts sharp at 11.00 pm from Colombo , as scheduled, reaches Puttalm around 1.30 am.
At Omanathai all the passengers are asked to get down and bodily checked, in separate rooms meant for men and women. I experienced a thorough body check and at times the feeling of pinching the body parts. When I got into the bus I heard of similar experience by others. Our bags and baggage’s were subject to check, but they did not pull out our clothes or dig around the bags. The officers on duty were very courteous and respectful in carrying out their duties.
There are number of potholes on the A9 road. Number of culverts and bridges are under re-construction. In some places army is engaged in clearing operations. Few huts are observable in Omanthai, Kuricudakulam, Karriankulam areas. Presence of large number of army and police personal is very visible in these areas. A statue of Buddah stands aloof on the A9 road. Busses stop at Murukandi temple for worship as was the practise in the past.
The bus reached Killinochchi around 7.15 am. Posters portraying the picture of Mahinda Rajapaksa could be seen all over but not even a single poster of General Sarath Fonsaka was seen. There is a huge Buddhist Vihara at Killinochchi junction; temples in the vicinity are also perceptible.
At the entrance to Elephant Pass there is a large name board depicting the slogan “Ayubowan, Jaffna Welcomes You”. In Muhamalai and Pallai areas there are more army and police personal present than the public at large.
As we reached Chavakacheri, we could see posters with the photos of Mahinda Rajapaksa along with Douglas Devananada. The bus that left at 11.00 pm the previous night reached Clock Tower Road , Jaffna at about 9.30 am the following morning. The vehicles along A9 road were not speeding more than 20-30 mph as the roads were in a very bad state. In many places the roads are under reconstruction. Ruins of buildings are noticeable everywhere in the Jaffna town. In contrast to pre-1980 periods, the trafficking of people in the Jaffna town is almost one fourth.
I came to understand that there is no fear of thieves in Jaffna nowadays. In the past, it was the LTTE activists who were involved in theft and burglary, I was told. They were involved in wide-ranging stealing; even the flower pots kept in front of houses were not spared with, people say. It is widely talked that after the defeat of armed struggle, particularly the defeat of LTTE, there is hardly any theft taking place in the peninsula. The anti-social activities such as stealing, extortion and taxation carried out by the LTTE has caused the people to hate liberation struggle as a whole. This remark is made by many including three wheel drivers, businessmen and farmers.
As a result of the atrocities committed by the LTTE and other armed groups from time to time, majority of Tamils hate armed groups and the offspring political parties. None of the Tamil political parties today enjoy the overwhelming support of the people, alike what was extended to the TULF in 1977.
I was able to learn more about political reality in Jaffna by talking to a fisherman family, than what I learnt by attending to political discourses in London for the last ten years. Their view is more rational and inspiring. That fisherman family vividly explained the reason as to why they supported EPDP. Their contention is that by extending their support to EPDP their safety could be secured and they can get their immediate infrastructure needs done, citing tarring of road as an example. Nobody stated in explicit terms that EPDP will bring them prosperity or that Douglas Devananda is their leader.
People have suffered enough in the hands of armed groups. They sense that the presence of Sinhala army is a necessary evil to keep the armed groups at bay. In the absence of Sinhala army, the LTTE will take route and will start fighting with the EPDP. Instead, it is safer if the army is present along with the EPDP, is their estimation. But, none has said in lucid terms that the presence of EPDP is a must.
The reason as to why the people in the North are supportive of TNA, I am able to gauge by talking to people with different walks of life, is that all other political parties are offspring of militant organisations. There is no political party in the North today that could claim to have emerged from its bases amongst the society.
As compared to the 1980’s, the schools in the North including in Islands off Jaffna , are in better condition. I had the opportunity to spend most of my time at Mathagal St. Joseph s Maha Vidyalaya, Manipay Hindu College , Sandillipai Hindu College and Kayts St.Anthony’s College. The activities of these schools have been greatly affected due to the influx of refugees from Vanni.
The total number of students at Mathagal St. Joseph s Maha Vidyalaya was 397 in 2009. It has risen to 500 by the beginning of this year – a 25% increase. The school is unable to coup up with this sudden increase. Recently 38 refugee students got admitted at this school from Vanni. They do not have any basic requirements of a student. Many displaced families like the family members of these students are living in temporary huts in St Thomas Road in Mathagal. Their living condition is very sympathetic.
I met a child named Madusa Sivarasa living in one of these huts. She does not know the whereabouts of her father and her brothers are missing. On 25.04.2009 they left Puthumathalan by sea. They were captured by the Navy in Sallai area, and send to Kaithady camp. Now Madusa is living with her grandfather in one of this hut in Mathagal. She is studying in grade 05 at Mathagal St. Joseph s Vidyalaya. I have come across another girl aged 08 years. All her family members have died. She is being cared by the school. The calamity that happened in Vanni has its impact in Mathagl, a village many miles away.
The situation with regard to Manipay Hindu College and Kayts St. Anthony’s College is different. The overseas Old Students Associations of these schools has given lot of assistance to these schools. However they are in need of support to develop the computer/IT unit. For example in Manipay Hindu College , where 1015 students are studying at present, one teacher is in charge of Library as well the IT unit. As a result, neither the library nor the IT unit is run properly. In 2005 the student population of this school was 430.
The school has given admission to 82 displaced students from Vanni. It is said that the overseas OBAs were very active prior to 2004 - during the peace talk period - but nowadays very little help from these bodies are reaching these school. As a result, some of the programmes started in anticipation of funding from these bodies are now being either abandoned or carried out at a slow phase.
The state of the University of Jaffna is very pathetic. The Jaffna University is an icon of the Tamil’s educational pride. Though substantial number of graduates from this University is living abroad, there is no indication of any help reaching the university from the alumni. Even an alumni association of Jaffna University is not heard of.
The grant given by the government is enough only for bare minimum expenses. Individuals or business establishments abroad should come forward and help either in their name or in their family name as they wish. For example, the University is in possession of only one old vehicle which was donated by the Government of India in 1987.
The political enthusiasm amongst the Tamil Diaspora community has nothing to do with the ground situation there. For the last twenty five years ‘Keyboard revolutionaries’, living from the comfort of their host countries, have been engaged in only criticising the LTTE of its atrocities. Today, they can get on to the ground and engage in constructive projects without any hindrance. The situation today is such that even at midnight if somebody goes in a bicycle at Vadukoddai junction, the army will not dare to stop and question.
Whether this situation will continue, difficult to gauge; but this is the current situation. The ‘Tilko Properties’, an establishment based in London , which was at onetime strongly supportive of LTTE is now putting up a hotel project in Jaffna . Rather than talking of the past and entangle the people into more and more difficulties, the Tamil Diaspora should come forward and get into ventures to help these people.
Tamil Diaspora should do away with its fanatic ‘Thamil Eelam’ crusade campaigns. The fantasy of buying poppy and oil lamp for ten and five pounds respectively, queuing in thousands to light the oil lamp, then eating the our ‘national food ‘ Kothu Rotti and mutton role need to be brought to an end.
The death knell should be rung for the unrealistic and idiotic political notion of ‘traditional home land’ - 5% of the population claiming 33% of the country’s landmass. If the polity of the Tamil community fail to reflect their aspiration in a realistic manner, they will end up in a situation similar to that of the Palestinians – a dependant society on the Western World locked up in a stretch of landmass similar to Gaza Strip (Eelam Mullivaikal).
The era of aligning with India and teaching a lesson to the ‘Sinhalese’ is gone. Today the foreign / defence policy of India is centred on regional supremacy and economic growth. Tamil Diaspora may continue to have its emotive fun fair with fallacious firing speeches of people like Seeman and Vaiko; or else, may compel another three or four to immolate.
All these fantasies will not bring prosperity to the Tamils living in our mother land. The economic activity and the voter’s strength play a pivotal role in the political activities. Any impracticable political overtures will deepen the sufferings of our people. Today’s Tamil population is less than 50% of what was in 1980.
According to Dr. Thevarasan, Director of Health Services, Jaffna and Professor Shanmugalingam, Vice Chancellor of University of Jaffna, when advertisements were placed for vacancies in the Jaffna teaching hospital and in the University, there are more Sinhala eligible applicants than the Tamils. As a result they have no option other than employing Sinhalese for those vacancies. This is the reality there.
If we, the Tamil Diaspora, who have migrated to the Western World within the last thirty years can put up temples in every nook they live and carry out our devout duties during festive seasons by squatting and parading the streets with bare bodies and breaking heap of coconuts on the middle of the roads (causing traffic jam and health and safety hazards); if there can be the sculpture of ‘Lord Ganapathy’ in Anuradahapura junction; what is wrong in erecting the statue of Buddah in the North?
What is the harm it is going to incite, whether it is going to bring any traffic jam or health hazard? Living together in harmony is the only game in the town.
Until such time the death knell is sounded for the notion of ‘liberation struggle of Thamil Eelam’ and for the politics based on ‘Tamil heritage’, Tamil people will not prosper. The liberation struggle has caused the minority community into a marginalised community.
It has caused the impairment of the Tamil’s motto such as ‘historical habitat’ and ‘North-East merger’. The need of the hour for the Tamils is to live within united Sri Lanka securely and prosperously.
(Writer is the managing editor of ‘ London Kural’ ( London Voice) - a free monthly news paper in the UK and’ Thesam’)
22 Comments
It is a sad fact of life that after events of the last 30 years that the North lies in ruins. The latest reports say there were 3 million people visiting Jaffna during the last quarter. This should not only show the local people that the Sinhala are not the savages they were depicted to be by the LTTE, but with whom they could and should live side by side in the future. They also should realize that they are no lesser humans than the rest in the country. Ethnic politics should be shunned by everybody and work towards the restoration of the economy in all parts of the country. This will of necessity take time, but it is upto all of us to make it happen.
I commend the writer for saying it as it is, and look forward to a brighter future for all.
Very good article. Thank u Tarrin Constantine.
This writer should write more articles of this type to educate Tamils live in Western world (Tamil Diaspora)to come out from their fantasy world. They must realise the truth and look for the betterment of innocent Tamils live in Sri Lanka. Stop the blame game. Tamil Ealam is history now. If someone wants to support LTTE, Tamil Ealam Trans-National Government, British Tamil Forum or Global Tamil Forum, read this article once again.
Brilliant write up that the Tamil diaspora should read and re-read. He brings some real truths home.
What an excellent article. Only by actually speaking to the ordinary people in Jaffna can one rationally discuss the situation. If only all articles on Transcurrents carried this kind of fact-based analysis.
Tarrin Constanti
We always were and always will be a highly successful community that preserves one of the oldest cultures on earth and has a powerful global presence.
In 1977 Tamil people gave overwhelming mandate to new Tamil Nation, and not for the political party. Coincidentally, TULF had the same mandate, therefore Tamil people re-confirmed that.
Later Mr. J.R. Jayawardane shut down that democratic path by bringing legislation forcing people to take oath to denounce separation. Therefore, TULF MPs has to vacate their seats in parliament. Effectively Tamil people’s political vice was silenced.
Now, nobody in SriLanka can talk about the Tamil Nation, unless they are willing to risk their life, like Mr. Kumar Ponnambalam did. Therefore no Tamil Parties are truly reflecting the aspirations of Tamil people, hence no overwhelming support. But Tamil People know this predicament of Tamil political parties.
There is a general euphoria in the South that the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka has lost all their bargaining powers after the defeat of LTTE and it is through the magnanimity of the majority community they may prosper in the future. The results of the Presidential election proved a point that the Tamil minority is still yearning for a meaningful political solution even though the Government is trying hard to win the hearts and minds of the people through several development works that are promised for the North and East.
If the Tamil minority wants to agitate for a meaningful political solution to their long lasting ethnic grievances they should continue to hold their united stand in the forthcoming Parliamentary election.Irrespective of which coalition, UPFA or UNF wins the majority in the forthcoming Parliament TNA can play a decisive role in the formulation of the policies of the new Government, especially when a 2/3 majority is required for any amendments to the constitution.
In the mean time the minorities in the North and East should reject all other splinter groups that promise heaven and earth for them if they support the present Government and create a fear psychosis that all development works to their region will be hampered if they do not support. There are many international donors including India are waiting to offer assistance for the development of North and East irrespective of which party is elected to govern the country in the forthcoming Parliamentary election.
The writing is on the wall - Tarrin must be handsomely paid by anti-Tamil elements.
He says "If we, the Tamil Diaspora, who have migrated to the Western World within the last thirty years can put up temples in every nook they live and carry out our devout duties during festive seasons by squatting and parading the streets with bare bodies and breaking heap of coconuts on the middle of the roads (causing traffic jam and health and safety hazards); if there can be the sculpture of ‘Lord Ganapathy’ in Anuradahapura junction; what is wrong in erecting the statue of Buddah in the North?
The diffrence is one is felt and done by a community, the other is an agenda sponsored by the State. - The author comes out as an individual with less than average intelligence.
best article . Thanks, sincere thanks should go the writer for taking the initiative to show the ground reality of innocent candid people in the North and South to the Diaspora.
Both Buddhism and Hinduism are based on non violence. Now that terrorists do not oppress Tamils, they can practice their religion and live in harmony with all other Sri Lankans. This noble land is home to all of us.
Dear writer, please keep writing. It is a pleasure to see you are using your pen to preach non violence, which is THE ONLY way to sustainable peace, happiness and harmony.
Wow, Never thought I will read an opinion by a Tamil like this. Yes everywhere in Sinhala Buddhist areas we RESPECT Hindu Gods. We have Ganesh or Valli Amma and all sorts of statutes even in Colombo. Why not Buddha statues? That is of course totally trivial compared to the resuscitation of economic activities, educational and cultural activities of Jaffna. We are in Global economy. Tamils cannot pretend to be part of the Global culture and then want Jaffna to be isolated. More Tamils and Sinhalese integrating, and interacting, more investments, develop of property and more private sector involvement is what is needed. I also saw the road being reconstructed everywhere I went. Roads in Vavuniya town and better than roads in COlombo. Road from Habarana to Valchachanai junction is superb. The road from Nilaveli to Pulmuddoai is being done by Chinese. Railroad is being rebuilt. The Diaspora need to stop their foolishness and send their money for development work. Jaffna is slowly awakening. It has been left behind in time and it will soon awaken and rejoin the modern world. DO NOT sabotage that for fancy racist eelam dreams;eelam will not happen in Jaffna; you can have eelam in Scarborough. full stop.
This is an excellent blog written with foresight and incisive analysis. As observed by the author Tamil parties such as the TULF do not have the support they once had. He is scathing in his observation that the Tamils will be marginalised if they continue with their insistence that the North and East is their so called ‘homeland’. The TNA too has been tainted with blood on their hands because of their association with the LTTE who engaged in fratricide during the war.
Due to the unrealistic policies that the LTTE espoused, the Tamil populace of the North is scattered to the four corners of the world. Those who did not have the resources to leave Sri Lanka have moved south and what we have been left with are those who withstood the brutality and rigours of war as they had very little choice.
Despite all that has befallen the remaining Tamils in the north, I admire the stoicism and the tenacity of the human spirit in them for getting on with their lives in spite of the difficulties they face. I am also saddened by the observation of the author about the dearth of skilled professionals locally due to the war.
The very concept of Tamil Eleam is not a solution that is fit for the twenty first century. If over fifty five percent of Tamils can live in harmony in the south of the country, what is to stop the remaining forty five percent in the North and East living in harmony with the influx of Sinhalese in their midst. Sri Lanka is one nation whether you are Sinhalese, Tamil, Moor, Malay, Burgher, Veddah or Chinese for that matter.
Unfortunately the Tamil Diaspora is living in cloud cuckoo land as witnessed by the shenanigans of the Global Tamil Forum in London recently. A fraction of all those millions that they collected for the war could be put to good use to develop the north and make lives of their brethren tenable. Sadly their political ideology is shrouded in the bogey of Eleam to effect this change. Will they ever learn that the world is changing and that ethnic enclaves are not the future for all who inhabit this resplendent isle.
The cultural kaleidoscope that is Sri Lanka is one of its strengths. I only hope that all Sri Lankans who love Sri Lanka will strive to keep it as such.
Mainstream IDENTITY POLITICS (COOMUNALISM) is DEAD in Sri Lanka. The ANNIHILATION of the LTTE was the final Death blow. Most Tamils (though they still have a soft spot for their TERRORIST FREEDOM FIGHTERS) have moved on. The only ones still STUCK-ON-STUPID is the DELUSIONAL Diaspora and their Looney-Tune counterpart politicians here in the TNA. Tamils are no longer voting for TAMIL Politicians because they are "Tamil" but because of real issues.
Dear Tarrin,
Thanks for a good article. Following statements in your article summarise everything.
"if there can be the sculpture of ‘Lord Ganapathy’ in Anuradahapura junction; what is wrong in erecting the statue of Buddah in the North?" (Buddhists worship 'Lord Ganapathy’ along with Buddah).
"The liberation struggle has caused the minority community into a marginalised community". (Better to feel and act like Sri Lankans, rather than some foreigners).
"The need of the hour for the Tamils is to live within united Sri Lanka securely and prosperously". (spend those millions now for tamils' bettermant, not for arms and division of the motherland)
I commented about this before in a blog and I share the same views as the writer. All the funds collected by the Tamil Diaspora should be used to develop the North and the East to give a better quality of life to the natives of the war ravaged areas who are clearly the victims of the political game played and continued to be played by the Tamil Diaspora. If all that money, lives and energy chanelled into the war was chanelled into developing the North and the East, Jaffna would have become the de facto capital of Sri Lanka and may be better developed than Singapore . People like Vaiko are political jokers who are perpetuating dissension and the concept of a separate Tamil homeland to give life to their dying political ambitions. I suggest the following:
1. An online, transparent trust fund to develop the war ravaged areas is set up ;
2. All income and expenses are uploaded with images of development projects for all donors to see;
3. Educated and genuinely concerned people about the North and the East who are also accepted by the community are appointed as trustees to manage the trust fund and the projects ( may be on the lines of the Shanghai Corporation).
This way, tradesmen will have the latest machinery to engage in their trade. Students will have computers and access to the vast reservoir of information to educate themselves and contribute to the further development of the North and the East. In the end, North and the East will have the financial clout necessary to influence the decision making of the Central Government. This is achievable, if petty politics and politicians are left out.
On one hand you say that the majority of Tamils hate the armed groups (I am not questioning your sincerity here), then on the other hand, you attempt to promote the terror group EPDP. Obviously you are an apologist for EPDP and are conveniently ignoring all the crimes they have committed against the Tamil people.
The EPDP has to go too. They are nothing but puppets of the Rajapaksa regime and their role is to terrorise and intimidate the Tamil people on behalf of the regime. Take away their guns and grenades and they become nothing, with absolutely nothing to offer the Tamil people.
What a load of rubbish. The fight for self detemination started in 1948 and not at the hands of the LTTE. Chelvnyakam was created
Who was it that burnt the Jaffna library twice? It wasn't the Tamil people. It was the same people that travel to visit the north as tourists.
Tamils may now be able to survive under SLA watch but eventually as they will lose their voices just like in 1977. As long as tamils do what they are told there is no problem. After sinhala colonisation of the Tamil homeland, tamil will no longer be an pretend official language considering the misspelling of government signs in Tamil. Tamils at the moment are not hoping for a future they are only thinking about how to survive. When My parents were living in Jaffna it was the SLA that repeatedly broke in and looted the place.
The fact that most of the tamil lands that were privately owned have been seized by the state and military for bases and to house sinhalese troops and families without returning the land back to the legal tamil owners is probably acceptable to sinhalese community. Why doesn't the author ask the government to return all the land seized form tamils since 1948 to there original owners. Instead of following Israel's aggressive colonisation method.
If Sri lanka can guarantee tamil culture and identity according to the bandranaike-chelvanygam pact then this war would not have happened. The sinhala nation's aim is to continue the destruction of the Tamil identity which is started in 1948. This aim has left the country in an economic meltdown. It was not the the LTTE that destroyed the economy it was projects like Mihin airlines and misinformed oil deals which resulted in high oil prices.
As it is clear that anyone speaking on behalf of tamils is accused of supporting terrorism then how can one protect the Tamil community. This has left the tamils in the same position as the jews in Nazi Germany, no political representation and not protected under the state.
Protecting the Ancient Eelam Tamil culture is not a from of terrorism and GTF has the support of Sri lankan Buddhist and Muslim leaders to carry out this mandate. The Diaspora's duty is to prevent the alteration in history and protect the ancient tamil culture. We will not end up like North American Indians and Australian Aboriginals.
If we are all Sri Lankans as the author believes then what reason is there not to devolve power to the the North East as well as other provinces. Why does the president have to have the Sri Lankan population under his immediate control.
is it London Kural you work for, sound like sri lankan state sponsored propaganda machine.
If jaffna is so quite and peaceful why do you need 50,000 army to keep them like that ? that's called occupation of foreign land ?
Sri lanka start begging to the diaspara for money to develop the north ? no way they will help.
You might not have a back born or shame.
Tamils have not forgotten the what singla government has done in home land. All the dogulas's and krunda's and shameless people can continue wipe their master bottom.
The defeat of the LTTE has allowed moderate Tamils like Tarrin Constantine to express their views without fear of being killed. Tamil Hindu extremists who are hell bent on trying to create their racist homeland out of Sri Lankan territory will not like what he has to say; this is a given. But in order for the Tamil community to progress, it must shed both its inward-looking nature and its anti-Sinhalese rhetoric. Just as Tamils build their Hindu kovils in southern Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese will build Buddhist temples in northern Sri Lanka. Just as Tamils make their home in southern Sri Lanka, so will Sinhalese make their home in nothern Sri Lanka. The north is no more going to be Tamil-only territory. This is a reality that Tamil Hindu supremacists have to wake up to. The LTTE has been defeated and liberalism has to take its place. The Tamil diaspora are no longer the powerful group they once were. Attacking Buddhist temples in Paris, London and Toronto aren't going to help their cause.
What have you and the other Tamil Frinds of Rajapaksa have achieved so far...?
You have some good arguments, Tarrin but the very paragraph "I came to understand that there is no fear of thieves in Jaffna nowadays. In the past, it was the LTTE activists who were involved in theft and burglary, I was told. They were involved in wide-ranging stealing ...........", is unheard and a big lie..
LTTE have done bads things but there were many good things too during their time. Among those are low rate of robberies/teft, berrial of caste system and keeping/maintaining many of tamil cultural values...
This one fake point of yours, arises doubts about your original motiv and genuinous...
WE WANT THE TULF TO LEAD THE TAMILS.
THANK YOU MR CONSTANTINE FOR WRITNG A BALANCED EYE OPENER! ITS FIRST CLASS JOURNALISM. LET OTHERS OF THE DIASPORA,READ AND REALIZE THE WISDOM OF THE ARTICLE, AND RECONCILE.