Peace and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka: A Tamil Perspective
by Dravidan
“The way we see the problem is the problem”
(Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)
A recent seminar that was hosted by the Eelam Tamil Association of Victoria, has created a media frenzy sprouted with various sections choosing to quote and misquote what was said.
In particular the talk given by Dr Maheswaran triggered some excitement within the Tamil community as well as in the Sri Lankan and web based media. I have here attempted to give my own version of what was said to rest the confusion that has ensued
Dr. Jay Maheswaran a member of the LTTE’s negotiating team at the last Peace talks, delivering Prof Eliezer memorial lecture in Melbourne Australia spoke about the need for a new Paradigm, for the island of Sri Lanka to achieve Peace and Reconciliation. He emphasized that for the Tamil nation and the Sinhala nation to exist in true peace, there needs to be a shift in the current paradigm towards an environment filled with trust, respect and justice. This speech, which has been widely misquoted by vested individuals.
The Sunday Observer carries a report stating that “Dr. Joy Maheswaran, one of the key negotiators of the LTTE when the outfit engaged in talks with the Government from 2002 to 2005, said that the LTTE made a severe blunder by withdrawing from the peace talks and had dug its own grave”. In fact the above statement was made by Professor Damian Kingsbury, from the School of International and Political Studies, Deakin University and an expert peace negotiator who has been involved in the crisis in Aceh, East Timor and West Papua.
It was refreshing to hear from a Tamil Diaspora leader sans the rhetoric. It was encouraging to hear from a man who participated in the peace talks, articulating a pragmatic approach to redress the problems of the Tamils facing today. It was heartening to hear that Tamil Diaspora leaders with a clear vision for the Tamils of Sri Lanka are coming out and articulating their views with courage.
Dr. Maheswaran laid the scene for setting the architects of his new paradigm by listing down the reasons why the 2002 Peace talks failed based on an analysis performed by the reputed International Crisis Group. This report which was issued on 28th November 2006, lists down 4 major reasons for the failure of the peace talks.
1. The peace process consisted of discussions between only two of the parties to the conflict. There was little transparency and no place for other affected communities – Muslims, non-LTTE Tamils, other Sinhalese parties.
2. Lack of structural reform - inability of the government to begin to address some of the root causes of the conflict
3. Neither side wanted to rush into substantive political issues
4. Limited International Involvement
Then he went on to list down the reasons from his own experience as a development advisor to LTTE’s negotiation team. They were
1. Inability of the government to get political consensus amongst the Sinhalese
2. Failure to implement agreed resolutions at different tracks of negotiations, SIHRN
3. Non-willingness to address day-to-day needs of war affected populations
4. Failure to negotiate and seek a way to implement the ISGA
5. The lack of inherent trust between the parties to be genuine
In recent media quotes (or misquotes), whilst the first four reasons did not receive much coverage it is the last point that got highlighted albeit in a twisted manner to suit the reporter. The Sri Lankan Government’s official news paper Sunday Observer quoted Dr. Maheswaran as saying “the outfit (LTTE) did not negotiate honestly to reach a durable settlement to the national question in Sri Lanka and did not conduct themselves in a reliable manner”. Surprisingly, The Tamilwin website, which generally does not cover news from the Sunday Observer, carried a word to word translation of the above news item.
The fact that both parties didn’t trust each other is a well known fact. Dr. Jay Maheswaran is not the first to publicly state that LTTE didn’t have trust in the Government nor will he be the last. LTTE’S Chief Negotiator Anton Balasingham speaking on Nov 27th 2005 at the commemorative meeting for LTTE Great Heroes’ Day held at Alexandra Palace, London stated that “If we voted for Ranil, we could have gone for talks with Ranil but Ranil is a dangerous fox. Why I say this is because I am tired of talks”.
Dr. Maheswaran then went on to outline why he believes the Sri Lankan Government needs the Tamils. He said that if the Government fails to engage the Tamils and achieve peace with justice, Sri Lanka will “continue to be in a state of war”. He further added the cost of maintaining a large military machinery, the loss of economic opportunities and exclusion from the international community will all act as incentives for the Government to seek peace with the Tamils. Quoting Prof Galtung, a renown peace activist, he also warned that the failure to do so may revive the Tamil militancy in the future and also highlighted the economic benefits which could be derived by the participation of the “Tamil intelligentsia in the development of the nation”
The Tamils, Dr. Maheswaran said, need peace to give a chance for the Tamils in Sri Lanka to regain their lives, to realise their economic and intellectual potential, to be accepted in the international community and to halt the exodus of thousands of Tamils taking perilous journeys seeking refuge.
Prior to articulating his strategies, he emphasized the need for the Tamils to accept the ground realities. He said that the International community is not in favor of separation at present. Does the Tamil Diaspora needs Dr. Maheswaran to say this hard fact, when each and every envoy to Sri Lanka has publicly stated that they do not support separation?
He went on to drive home the truth that the Tamils have lost the military war, but not the struggle for freedom. What is so controversial about it, when the LTTE itself declared on the 16th of May 2009 that they have decided to silence their guns? To date they have lived by that statement and have not done anything in contrary by word or deed.
“The rights of Tamils living in Sri Lanka are severely curtailed, Tamils lack a cohesive and credible political force in Sri Lanka and the ability to reach a political consensus must be strong amongst Tamils living internationally” were the other three ground realities he specified.
In the final part of his address, Dr. Jay Maheswaran articulated a four pronged strategy (a paradigm shift) to achieve peace and reconciliation from a Tamil perspective. Whilst the International community has been urging the Sri Lankan government to take steps towards Peace and reconciliation, it is the first time a Tamil perspective on peace and reconciliation has been published.
Following is the summary of the four strategies articulated by Dr. Jay Maheswaran
1. Aiding the resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka
- The Sri Lankan Government is not committed to a respectable resettlement
- However, as a sovereign government which controls the NE of Sri Lanka we have
no choice but to work with the Government to help the displaced
- the validation of land ownership is critical, to stop the colonisation
- the need to build a self reliant society, not one dependent on hand outs
- Need for small to medium sized investments, to stimulate the NE economy
2. Building a cohesive and credible political front in Sri Lanka
- The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is the best political choice
- The others are all ex-militants turned opportunists
- The Tamil political entities should be given the space to formulate and
articulate their policies freely and internationally
- Tamil parties should look at developing a third force which is pluralistic
3. Unifying an effective Diaspora that speaks with one political voice
- Tamil Diaspora is the strongest entity that can give voice to Tamils in Sri
Lanka
- Collectively we have an economic clout
- Many organisations can emerge, but should have a consensus approach on Sri
Lankan politics
4. Making all accountable for atrocities committed
- The western democracies may pursue the war crimes issues for more
sinister reason, but for Tamils it is Justice
- This may take a long time, the international community may give up, but
Tamils have to keep it alive
In conclusion, I believe, Dr. Jay Maheswaran articulated in his speech that the armed liberation struggle waged by the Tamils has come to a “bitter end.” The defeat at the hands of the Sinhalese regime has shaken the Tamil community all over the world. However, root causes for the Tamil liberation struggle has not been resolved yet. If peace, justice and reconciliation need to materialise in Sri Lanka, then the legitimate political aspirations of the Tamils need to be met.
“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty” - Winston Churchill
12 Comments
Is reconciliation ever possible without justice, especially religious justice, for the injustices done to the oppressed Tamil people by Buddhists in SL in the name of religion?
Mahanayake of Malwatha Chapter and other Mahanayakes also committed war crimes by their actions such as "blessing" or rather cursing the soldiers to kill Tamils and tieing a "manthram case" around the necks of soldiers.
Their speeches promoted violence and war. They never asked the government to stop killing Tamils in May last year. They never called for peace or ceasefire. Thereby, they failed in their religious responsibility and covertly supported the genocide of Tamils.
These robed criminals should be brought to justice.
Why do religious leaders need a row of commanders and liutenants to protect themselves from the public , if they are truly observing the teaching of Buddha?
Don't they belong to criminal cult and not a religion?
"What is so controversial about it, when the LTTE itself declared on the 16th of May 2009 that they have decided to silence their guns? To date they have lived by that statement and have not done anything in contrary by word or deed."
Is the writer of thses words serious? does he expect anyone to accept what he says as a serious proposition? When the LTTE 'declared' on May 16th that they were going to silence their guns they were six days after a terile loss of 400 top fighters in a single debacle, and two days away from being silenced, guns and all.
'To date they have lived by their statement...' what do expect them to do bro? They daid. And the ones who aren't can't get out of the island fast enough. Plus they ain't got no guns. So they can't do anything contrary in word or deed. a decimated army ususally can't.
So please, if you want anyone to take the rest of what you are saying ( and there are some good points) seriously, stop this posturing , pathetic bullshit. Get real.
What Dravidan wants is EALAM not even a gram less .... Dr. Jay M is also same .. Anybody who has a iota of brain could understand that ... Almost all tamils in diospora also want this EALAM and glory of tamil nation thorough it ... This can only be achieved by destroying the sinhalese nation ... There is no other way ... This attitude of somhow achieving Ealam in future can not be hidden because it is the true fact .... These facts are now undertood by many more sinhalese than never before ... That is not a good news for ealamists.
Could they genuinely live together with sinhalese and give up ealam? ... No, because they do not want to live with sinhalese and would never give up ealam ... If they do, it's only for a short time, just to pass the present bad time ..
So, what will happen? ... Sinhalese will make sure ealam would never happen ... because, they know that they are finished within a 2-3 deacdes after ealam is formed ... If these true ealamists wants a ealam no matter what, they should seriously consider Tamil Nadu .. Because, sheer numbers are there .. most importantly, not any other nation is destroyed in the process ... SL is different ... In there, the process (achieving ealam) has to destroy sinhalese nation completely ....
What Dravidan wants is EALAM not even a gram less .... Dr. Jay M is also same .. Anybody who has a iota of brain could understand that ... Almost all tamils in diospora also want this EALAM and glory of tamil nation thorough it ... Ealam can only be achieved by destroying the sinhalese nation ... There is no other way ... You can talk about 'peace', 'co-existance', 'reconciliation' etc .. But, those are just empty words .. This attitude of somhow achieving Ealam in future can not be hidden because it is the true fact .... These facts are now undertood by many more sinhalese than never before ... That is not a good news for ealamists.
Could they genuinely live together with sinhalese and give up ealam? ... No, because they do not want to live with sinhalese and would never give up ealam ... If they do, it's only for a short time, just to pass the present bad time ..
So, what will happen? ... Sinhalese will make sure ealam would never happen ... because, they know that they are finished within a 2-3 deacdes after ealam is formed ... If these true ealamists wants a ealam no matter what, they should seriously consider Tamil Nadu .. Because, sheer numbers are there .. most importantly, not any other nation is destroyed in the process ... SL is different ... In there, the process (achieving ealam) has to destroy sinhalese nation completely ....
It breaks my heart to make these staements.We have to accept the fact that Sri Lanka is a Sinhala country and it will never address the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people. In my estimation, the money sent by the Tamil Diasphora living in different parts of the globe is in a big way sustaining the economy of the country. Every year billions of rupees are being sent by Tamils to their relatives back home.And I don't think we can stop this because we have this responsibility of helping our relatves back home. Just imagine how lucky the Sri Lankan government is!!
Regardless of what Dr Maheswaran says, or Mr Dravidian interprets,the failure of peace talks was entirely due to VP and the people who advised him.
Dr Damien Kingsbury who has a pretty good track record and hands on experience of producing the goods in these situations. is right on the money with his comment about Mr Prabakaran.
A terrorist leader like VP who murdered his own for any sign of objection had all the room in the world to change,shift,modify what ever on the agenda,
A Democratically elected government of a sovereign nation on the other hand has very limited ability to make major changes in a situation like what we had.
So making " not being able to get a consensus on the Government side" as an excuse is just vain talk.
It is blatantly obvious that the peace talks were just a front to replenish, refurbish and re group men, and material for the ultimate goal of separation for the Greater Tamil Eelam.
Now that it misfired, the supporters are still on the hunt to carry on the same agenda under disguise.
The TNA, which both these writers endorse unanimously, is the best example.
TNA is the major backer of the LTTE until the last breadth of Mr VP.
Even then the TNA leader took a long while to disown him.
The other Tamil political parties which the writers castigate as outlaws are the ones who braved the bullets and bombs, and stuck up for the Tamils living there.
I don't think the Government has forgotten the past no matter what pressure the pro LTTE diaspora exerts with the help of their Western allies.
But the Government will do the right thing to uplift not only the long suffering North and Eastern people but also equally suffering poor rural people in the other parts of the Nation.
Giving every one a chance to access a descent standard of living is the best avenue to prevent future Prabakarans, although some like Professor Galtung may wish to breed them soon.
WAR is the last resort but LTTE took war as the FIRST resort without consulting Tamils in the Island. Those who support LTTE have no moral rights to inquire about the "atrocities" or "WAR CRIMES".
Tamils have many political parties. Why? Dont the Tamils know the "problems"?
This EELAM struggle was an undemocratic and full of human rights violations. Tamil voices were oppressed by the so called Tamil Liberators.
Tamils lost not only EELAM but their children, life savings, lands and many more. Those who escaped to the west live in peace and not prepared to help the remaining Tamils in Sri Lanka. Those who collected money for EELAM are now living happily So, Dr. Maheswaran and others better come down to the earth to see the ground realities instead of continuing the same "struggle" to enrich Tamil diaspora!
A fifth strategy that I believe is missing is the strengthing the support of the people of Tamil Nadu in particular and South India in general in favour of the Tamil cause to influence who governs India. The people of TN and South India are a natural support base that needs to be cultivated to the point that the Sri Lankan Tamil issue is one of the deciding factors in which a South Indian will vote in a general election in India.
This has to be a long-term strategy and this is the only way a government that is sympathetic to the Tamil cause can be elected in India.
Why do you try to analyze why the peace talks failed? Weren't they supposed to fail? Isn't that what the LTTE leadership wanted?
The LTTE "unofficial" official policy was to be two faced; to present a face of reason and compromise to the world at the same time as assuring their own followers that nothing would stop them from their goal of absolute Ealam. To this end they ended one cease-fire period by launching a pearl harbour style attack in Trinco harbour as well as murdering those 600+ policemen.
Another good example of their intransigence is the number of murders they committed through-out the last cease-fire. They fully expected war - but unfortunately for them they didn't get it soon enough.
As for the actions you propose - trying to persecute Sri Lanka abroad will be counter-productive. You are continuing the failed logic of the Tigers - better to open your mind.
It should be clear to many on the other side of the divide finally leaders of the militancy have settled down to examine "the other alternative" - to live in an undivided Island. KP is in and so Dr. Jay Maheswaran
all of which is in accord with the thinking of large number of Tamils in the Island. The vast majority of Tamils in the diaspora feel likewise is the general consensus. If the Southern Electorate can unite in one voice and move forward when President Rajapakse's hands are strengthened with more than a single electoral "victory" we come close to breaching the barrier. Will he gather up sufficient nerve even if he succeeds in getting his 2/3rd? That could be the key to the future.
ISS
Unless there is a change in the mind set of Sinhala polititians there is no peace. They use VP and his actions as excuses for their oppression on Tamils. Now VP is gone, is there any peace? No point of talking about VP. This is the time for the government to eleminate the root caurse of the problem. But goverment and many sinhalese think ther is no problem. Can Tamils do anything to change it? NO...
The major issue with Sri Lankan Sinhala mindset is to see all the voices who call for Tamil rights and self-determination as anti-Sinhala voice.
Dr.Jayathilake , you know the history. You know how Sinhala rulers handled Tamils well before LTTE. YOu know how Bandaranayake killed innocient Tamils. YOu know how JR killed and chased away Tamils. You know how Sri Lankan military conducted indiscreminate shelling and bombing.
When LTTE conducted attacks in Colombo , did your forces conducted indiscrminate shelling and carpet bombing?
Why all these happened only on Tamil home land?
So yo agree your forces do not care how many Tamils are killed because all you wanted was by the name of fighting LTTE , your forced carried out ethnic cleansing. The strong international support who did not like LTTE was your cushion , since the ethnic cleansing is carried out under the name of war against LTTE.
Now you have no clue what most of Tamils want! Do you?
If you are honest guy, if you want your generation not be born as handicapped for the sins you committed in your life against Tamils by killing 40,000 Tamils by the name of war , you can ask present rulers one thing!
Conduct a UN monitored referendum in Tamil Homeland and ask the people to vote!
Why not you do that rather than keeping on your lie on internet? What is the point of continuing your cruel mentlity towards innoicent Tamils?
Why cannot you come out of Sinhala racism and think like human being and allow Tamils to have their own land? what is your problem?
God never created the land to be ruled by few people! Why Sinhalese think they are the rulers of Tamils? Who gave that right?
As long you keep on writing (wasting ) your time on LTTE's problems you will never ever solve this issue! Why not you broaden your blind eyes and see those LTTE are nobody else but Tamilk youth. Tigers are no more a small organisation , they are the only hope because Sinhala rulers never will give our rights!
In which part of the world you can keep 18,000 youth in camps? Are you all human beings?
The agression your war criminal bosses have created is very high!
We know you will never ever undertsnd becase you are grown as animal in dungeon who is only grown to kill and slave Tamils! So we expect international community to allow Tamils to be released from Sinhala rulers and enjoy a freedoom!
Tamileelam is our right! Nobody else , only Tamils can deicde about that!