The 'myth' of ethnic suppression

Face the truth Mr. Kadirgamar

In a recent interview on Rupavahini, the Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar made an assertion that Tamils in this country are suppressed by the Sinhalese. He claimed that the Tamils who have always felt that they were second class citizens were fleeing the country in fear of their lives. He also said that it was understandable if not justified that the LTTE took up arms. Coming from an intelligent man holding a responsible position in government, it was disheartening to hear such irresponsible statements from him. Mr. Kadirgamar also claimed that this suppression of the Tamils was existent even in the pre-independence era. This, Mr. Minister, would not have helped the cause of communal harmony!

In making these claims, Mr. Kadirgamar does not state if he himself has been personally subject to suppression by the Sinhalese or whether he considers himself a second class citizen in this country.

Was he really speaking on behalf of the Tamils or on behalf of the LTTE's cause? He did not even bother to mention the thousands of Tamils who fled the North and East in fear of their lives from the LTTE and who now live in comparative safety in the South and abroad.

Firstly, were the Tamil 'greats' of the pre and post independence era such as Mr. Chelvanayagam, Mr. Naganathan, Mr. Amirthalingam, and Mr. G.G. Ponnambalam personally subject to suppression by the Sinhalese? On the contrary, were they not part of the elite of this country, respected and held in high esteem by the Sinhalese?

Mr. Kadirgamar made repeated references to the '83 riots and other incidents where the Sinhalese attacked the Tamils but he never mentioned the Sinhalese villages that were massacred or the scores of Buddhist monks who were killed or the massive number of Muslims that were slaughtered by the LTTE. How does the killing of Muslims justify the retaliation of the LTTE due to the suppression by the Sinhalese?

Secondly, what about the assassination of scores of Tamil politicians and intellectuals who were dedicated to the cause of the Tamils, such as the Duraiappas, the Thambimuttus, and the Tiruchelvams? These personalities were held in the highest esteem even by the Sinhalese and Muslims. Were they not first class citizens? Is the LTTE justified in killing them because of so-called suppression by the Sinhalese?

Does this not mean that the LTTE wants to establish only their writ in the North and East and no one else's, even those of other Tamil organisations?

So, why don't the politicians and intellectuals of all races join forces in laying to rest, once and for all, this myth of ethnic suppression and tackle the real problem: the craving for total power by the LTTE and the economic hardships suffered on the part of the ordinary inhabitants of the North and East regardless of whether they are Tamil, Sinhalese or Muslim?

In an attempt to get the situation in the correct perspective, let us analyze this distinction of first class and second class citizenry, as referred to by Mr. Kadirgamar. If one has education, wealth or power, especially political power, does one not automatically become a candidate for first class citizenship? Are the Gnanams, the Thondamans, the Balendrans, the Nadesans, the Maharajas, the Ponnambalams and even the Kadirgamars personally suppressed by the Sinhalese per se? Are they not first class citizens in their own right? The ordinary Sinhalese are not even third class citizens before them and no one envies their position. Did they achieve this in the confines of Jaffna?

Take Mr. Balendran for instance, who was among one of the many Tamils who suffered drastically in '83 and even contemplated living abroad before subsequently returning to Sri Lanka. He may have bad memories and justifiably feel extremely hurt but does he live in fear of his life? Is he not an equal among many and appear among most Sinhalese? Where is this so-called suppression of Tamils in their case?

On the other hand, let us look at the Tamils who live in abject poverty and squalor — in areas such as Wanathamulla or Maligawatte — cheek by jowl with their Sinhalese and Muslim brethren. Where is the class distinction here? Aren't they collectively suppressed as well as oppressed regardless of their ethnicity? Who is fighting for their cause, I wonder? It definitely cannot be either Mr. Kadirgamar or Mr. Prabhakaran!

Take for instance the Tamils living in the belt from Mattakkuliya to Wellawatte — now even referred to as 'little Jaffna',— are they being suppressed, harassed or attacked by the Sinhalese in the way the Sinhalese border villagers in the North and East are being attacked by the LTTE? The only inconvenience caused to those in Colombo is by the security searches which have become imperative due to the murderous bomb carriers of the LTTE. Even these searches appear to be confined to the ordinary Tamils but not to those residing in posh surroundings who are driven around in Pajeros, Volvos, and Benzes.

Does the so-called suppression of Tamils justify the indiscriminate bombing carried out by the terrorists regardless of the ethnicity of the victims? In that case, two of the most devastating bombs that were set off were in the vicinity of Zahira College where the majority of the victims could have been Muslims.

Now let us turn to the real problem. Is there actual suppression of Tamils? The answer is yes, a resounding yes! But in the same token, there is suppression of Sinhalese, Muslims, and any other ethnic community living in the remote or poverty stricken areas whether it be in the North, South, East, or West. This is the real problem that we have to accept and find ways to solve. This is a result of 'economic suppression', the lack of facilities, the lack of infrastructure, the lack of developmental projects and an archaic education system which unfairly favours city dwellers and upper class society.

This is the real reason why the JVP and the LTTE have been driven to take up arms, though the latter has twisted the reason to their advantage, but to the disadvantage of the Tamils themselves in particular and the whole nation in general. Without developing the North and East, they are waging a war of destruction. If what the JVP did was not morally justified, why shouldn't the same apply to the LTTE, as the actions of both these groups have succeeded in destroying a generation of Sri Lankan youth — both Tamil and Sinhalese.

Just as the Janasaviya programme and rural development projects including the garment factories, were introduced by the late President Premadasa in an attempt to bring stability and economic prosperity to the areas ravaged by the JVP, why cannot Mr. Kadirgamar and Co., convince the LTTE that the cause of the Tamils would be better served if they laid down arms and joined hands with all the other Tamil parties and even the government in developing the North and East.

If the LTTE is sincerely concerned for the well-being of the Tamil people as a whole, let it take up this challenge and develop the North and East instead of destroying it.

There may be many governments and overseas agencies who will be ready and willing to grant massive aid for this purpose.

The Tamils living abroad, other communities and religious leaders would also gladly join in this rebuilding process, where the Tamils can go back to living the proud life they previously led, in peace, harmony and prosperity among themselves and with other communities.

True enough there were periods of suppression or oppression of Tamils in the 'Sinhala only' era and from time to time during the UNP era, but these were not sustained over long periods of time and all right thinking Sinhalese have vehemently condemned these acts and would be ready to make restitution, even overlooking the atrocities committed by the LTTE, for the overall benefit of the Tamil community. Therefore, the LTTE should be prepared even at this stage to take up the challenge of laying down arms and take up the 'tools' of development.

No one in their right minds would believe that the 'Sinhalese Government', whatever the government presently in power is, would even think of annihilating the Tamils.

How would it benefit the Tamil community if the LTTE were to gain "eelam" but lose a whole generation of Tamil youth? How would it benefit the Tamil people if the cost of gaining 'eelam" was a land ruined by war without the intellectuals or leaders capable of contributing to the well-being of the Tamil community?

Peace, harmony and prosperity can be achieved in the North and East expeditiously only if people such as Mr. Kadirgamar and the LTTE take up the challenge to face the truth.

They need to put behind this fictitious ethnic problem which has been the bugbear to re-establishing peace and harmony among the different communities in the country.

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