Saturday Sep 21, 2024
Saturday Sep 21, 2024
Friday, 8 November 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Washing dirty linen in public
I find many people have become masters of washing dirty linen in public vis-à-vis international forums. Shame on them to do this and yet pretend to be great lovers of our motherland. When are we going to stop all this and keep our fights to ourselves instead of trying to whip up
international support for our local issues? Well, one could argue that since we are in a globalised environment, it is inevitable that international issues can flow to and from the borders of this global village we live in.
But I would like to ask, “Are these issues truly global?” I have a right to ask this question, as I am half-Tamil and half-Sinhalese, so to speak. My mother was a Tamil from Manipai, Jaffna, which connects me closely to the red soil of Jaffna. I have always lived harmoniously with Tamils and Sinhalese and I have close friends from both ethnicities.
But not for a moment would I say that Tamils living in the north and the east are not facing any problem. Over the last 30 years, there was an attempt to solve the problems through violence and terrorism, and as a result, the entire country ended up in turmoil and terror. Death was everywhere!
Enjoying the benefits of peace
During those times of war, Tamils living in Colombo faced immense pressure. They were reluctant to even go out at night due to the strict scrutiny they were under from security establishments. The large majority of Tamils, understandably, were not comfortable with this situation and they had no way of escaping, as they had no other place to go. Following the end of war, this situation changed rapidly and now the Tamils in Colombo enjoy the benefits of peace just like the rest of the population.
So, at this juncture, we should not be carried away by the diaspora who are actually economic migrants, and by some elements of the intelligentsia who were forced to leave the country post the 1983 carnage. If there is bitterness lingering in their minds, it is understandable. It is also true that we need to win them over; but, as much as we need to win them over, they should also be compliant with such attempts, realising that separation is not the solution.
Why did the Government lose north election?
Then why did the Government lose the election in the north? Tamils in the north, as I understand, did not walk into the polling booth with a clear understanding of complications wedded to separatism. They actually voted on a few basic factors.
Firstly, there was a restriction on their movements. Secondly, their land rights had not been restored and they did not have wherewithal to construct houses. Thirdly, those who were in politics in the North has failed to understand what exactly the people of the north wanted.
Sharing of power, police rights and other similar matters are concerns of politicians and not of the people.
Therefore, I sincerely believe that the TNA, which now handles the provincial administration, will be able to differentiate the concerns of politicians and concerns of the people.
CHOGM should not be the tool they should use to raise issues that are really personal to Sri Lankans. Our problems should be solved within us. Our standards are much different from those of others and our lives are moulded with the teachings of Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Therefore, the West, especially given its track records in Afghanistan, Iran and Libya, does not possess a moral right to tell us what to do. Religious beliefs are losing ground in the West and people are detached from morality.
CHOGM preparations
We are being criticised from within by certain quarters on the scale upon which we are preparing for CHOGM. But the world must realise that this is an important occasion for us. In Sri Lanka, how seriously do we take weddings and funerals? It is a large-scale social engagement where many resources go into perfecting the rituals around it.
I witnessed the Non Alignment Movement summit in 1976 and I am pleased to say that we are better prepared this time to host one of the world’s largest international summits. It is the responsibility of the Government and President Mahinda Rajapaksa to allocate money for CHOGM preparations.
What I have to say is this is not the time to exert pressure on the Government. Internationally, everyone – including the US, UK, India, Canada and European Union – are playing politics with our little island of Sri Lanka. But they are not Sri Lankans.
We, the Sinhalese and the Tamils, are like two peas in a pod. I have both those genes in my blood and I don’t see any conflict. So let us all Sri Lankans show our unity at this celebration of CHOGM.
