Why is Indian Government not melting to the woes of Eelam Tamils guillotined under the war machine of the Srilanka pursuing a vengeful agenda of genocide aimed at ethnic cleansing?
There is no difference between Adolph Hitler’s agenda against the Jews and Rajapakshe’s state terrorism against Eelam Tamils. USA under the George Bush administration has not applied its mind to identify state sponsored terrorism. It is high time world wakes up due to the relentless struggles of Eelam Tamils spread across continents and brands Srilankan state as terrorist state.
Unless other nations initiate India will not take the first step to redeem Eelam Tamils from genocide. This impression is gaining ground and getting entrenched in Tamil psyche, as even Tamils of Tamilnadu feel like orphans within India, not because of the Indian nation but due to some mischief mongers in bureaucracy who have a common thread, racial sacred thread with the so called Aryan-Sinhalese.
In past when earnest efforts were made by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to resolve the Tamil Eelam issue, few misguided him, more prominent among them were Mr.Romesh Bhandari and Mr.J.N.Dixit. This time the needle of suspicion in the minds of Tamils living across the continents seems to point and suspect a rehearsal of that past with new players like Mr.M.K.Narayanan, National Security Adviser, misguiding Indian policies towards Eelam Tamils. It is normal that we in political class only will blame the political masters, and allows the bureaucracy to go scot-free, since bureaucracy is permanent and cannot defend itself on its own in public, unlike the politicians. But in the aftermath of Mumbai terrorist strikes, the Indian Home Minister Mr.Shivraj Patil, one who lost last elections but was inducted in cabinet due to his “slavish loyalty” as the leading New Delhi daily Mail Today described in its editorial dated 1st December 2008, had to quit office owning moral responsibility.
We congratulate Mr. P.Chidambaram, a Tamilian the new home minister, who had been Minister of State in the Home ministry with special charge of internal security in 1988 when Mr. Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister. “He is seen as a strong, assertive politician and close to Man Mohan Singh. But, he will be carrying some of Patil’s baggage. The former home minister was not the only one responsible for making a mess of the security situation. National security advisor (NSA) M.K. Narayanan, home secretary Madhukar Gupta, Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief P.C. Haldar, Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief Ashok Chaturvedi, and director-general Coast Guard Vice Admiral R.F. Contractor were responsible for making the country safe from terrorist strikes. Like Patil, they failed repeatedly. Yet, they have kept their jobs. In short, the government has sacked Patil but chosen not to dismantle the architecture of incompetence that surrounded him till his resignation on Sunday morning” writes Mail Today. It points the accusing finger on Mr.M.K.Narayanan, the National Security Adviser.” He failed in effective coordination between the intelligence and security agencies. Even the Prime Minister said such coordination was missing in pre-empting the latest attack. The PM now wants a mechanism for coordination between all security agencies. A shrewd operator and a survivor, Narayanan has been accused of undermining the IB and R&AW chiefs. He offered to resign when he met the PM on Sunday, but may have been saved by the TINA (‘there is no alternative’) factor. “The government does not have a replacement for the NSA’s position right now,” a senior PMO official said about the possible reason why Narayanan retained his job. On Sunday, the Prime Minister met Brijesh Mishra, former NSA in the NDA government. It set the rumour mills churning for a while, but the danger to Narayanan passed.” so says the daily.
In USA whenever new President or Party assumes office, new set of policies emanate with fresh leaders inducted into government. In India the cabinet system is supreme, but by-passing the cabinet system or the cabinet secretariat, imitating the West, we wrongly create posts like National Security Adviser, which erodes the authority of the Cabinet Minister or Cabinet Secretary. I would like to recall a comment by a columnist in a leading daily, where he said Indian Prime Minister Mr.Manmohan Singh started his innings as Prime Minister of India, but ultimately ended as Prime Minister of National Capital. This comment emanated to criticize the PM for going on creating committee after committee to induct all retired bureaucrats thereby catering to their power craziness. Once retired these bureaucrats must settle lives in grace and should not be inducted to disgrace the younger generations.
The Government of India, and even the Prime Minister’s lukewarm response, as reported in Tamil media, to the demands of the all party delegation led by Tamilnadu Chief Minister Kalaignar M.Karunanithi, is due to the wrong advice given by National Security Adviser and others like him in bureaucracy. The winter session of Indian Parliament is in session. North Indian Members of Parliament are raising many issues, stalling even proceedings, in the past. But Tamils are upset that the 40 Members of Parliament are neither articulating the views of Elam Tamils and the genocide they are subjected to nor doing justice to their people. The days when Nanjil Manoharan was the Leader of the DMK Parliamentary party, the DMK team included Mr.Era.Sezhian, Mr.G.Viswanathan, Mr.S.S.Marisamy and many others with oratorical skills. The Prime Minster Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was forced to assure DMK’s EVK Sampath that Hindi will not be thrust. Later Sampath ditched DMK is another story. DMK is not sending scholars or orators to the Parliament, it sends only people who will keep their mouths shut, unless the high command gives signal, no one participates in debates. This brain drain results in Tamilnadu issues, be it on Cauvery to Eelam Tamil issues, not being focused in national media. Even the all party delegation led by Tamilnadu Chief Minister was either not reported or reported with little importance in national televisions, because the DMK lacked orators in English who can present their views. So bureaucrats easily misguide Government of India. The Tamil politics remains a battle of words and statements in Tamil televisions and media, and not one of national debate. Unless this drawback is addressed people like M.K.Narayanan can misguide, and we will not be shedding new light to the national debate.
Why it is that Government of India’s memory is weak on the failed promises of Srilankan Government? What should be the approach of Mr.Pranab Mukherjee while he goes to Colombo ?
Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, who was the former Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Srilankan Government, and who is now the Leader of the SLFP, (M) the defecting faction, and sits in the Opposition said in an interview given to Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema which is reported in the “The Sunday Leader” of August 3, 2008. The question that he was asked, it states, I quote: “The Indian Prime Minister was reportedly assured by the government even during your tenure as foreign minister that a political package to resolve the ethnic issue will be submitted at the earliest but still there is no progress on that front. How serious has this development impacted on Indo-Lanka relations?” and what was the answer he gave? It states, I quote: “As you know, as foreign minister between the period of November 2005 and January 2007, I made six visits to New Delhi-twice with the President. At each opportunity, I had the honour of meeting the Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh to explain the evolving situation in the country. Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee also participated at these meetings. In fact, at each meeting, first the President and then I assured the Prime Minister that the final report of the All Party Conference (APC) will be issued by August 2006, the latest.”
That was two years ago. He further goes on to say, I quote: “However, as time went by, it was also clear to me that the government, especially with the pressure exerted by the likes of the JHU, Wimal Weerawansa and also the Defence Secretary, were all out to sabotage and cripple the workings of the APC. The APC, as far as the President and his people were concerned was a ploy to keep the international community at bay and also a means of showing the international community that the government was interested in negotiating a settlement while it secretly operated a military option. In fact, when I met Dr. Singh later that year, it was very embarrassing, as I, in order to protect the government, had to pretend that a solution was forthcoming. In December 2006, the duplicity was evident when I accompanied the President to New Delhi to attend Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar’s daughter’s wedding and met the Indian Prime Minister to brief him on the latest developments in Sri Lanka. At this meeting, we had in our delegation, Dr. Rohan Perera, who was an advisor to the Foreign Ministry and a member of the expert’s panel of the APC that was drafting the final recommendations. At the meeting, the President got Dr. Perera to give a brief presentation to the Indian side on the proposed recommendations. Dr. Perera gave a concise presentation where he said they would propose absolute devolution of power similar to that of the quasi federal Indian Constitution. However, we were in for a rude shock once we got back to Sri Lanka when President Rajapakse, who was extremely peeved by Delhi’s blackout of his photographs at the earlier visit, instructed that the experts committee of the APC be dissolved. Dr. Perera and other members were mercilessly attacked in government controlled newspapers and were forced to submit their resignations. The President presented a set of proposals to India, which he himself was to disown a few weeks later. At the Non Aligned Summit in Havana in September 2006, President Rajapakse again assured the Indian Prime Minister and the delegation that there would be no de-merger of the north and east. But he later instigated Wimal Weerawansa and the JVP to file action against the merger. Even today, it is a well-known fact the President is there behind the anti-Indian rhetoric of the JHU and the JVP. ”
Mr. R.Sampanthan, Parliamentary Group Leader Tamil National Alliance speaking in Srilankan Parliament told that “the Foreign Minister of this Government who was with the President of this country, at the meeting with the Indian Prime Minister in Havana where the President assured the Indian Prime Minister that there will be no de-merger. This is not being said by me. It is being said by a Foreign Minister of this Government and this is exactly what Mr. M. K. Narayanan, the National Security Adviser of the Indian Government told me and my colleagues when we met him in New Delhi before the judgment of the Supreme Court, after the President met with the Prime Minister in Havana. Mr. Narayanan told us that there was an assurance from the President that there will be no de-merger and that we do not have to worry about it; going further he told us that the Indian Prime Minister has told the President that if there was going to be a de-merger, India would have to keep all its options open. Those were the exact words of Mr. M. K. Narayanan, the National Security Adviser of India. Sir, where exactly is this government going? What is this government doing? Are you not cheating everybody, the people in this country, the international community and the much beleaguered Tamil people? In so far, Sir, as the sharing of powers of Government is concerned, the Thirteenth Amendment was rejected by the main Tamil political party of the Tamil people, the TULF as early as 1987 – 1988, and continues to be rejected by the main Tamil political party, the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi, the Tamil National Alliance, which has 22 Members in Parliament out of 23 Tamil Members of Parliament elected from the North and the East. It has not found acceptance with any Tamil political formation that does not carry out the dictates of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Such a worthless scheme can never be a solution to the Tamil question. Moreover, by seeking to implement the Thirteenth Amendment, President Mahinda Rajapaksa thereby seeks to set at naught all efforts to evolve an acceptable political solution between 1989 and 2007, including his own pronouncements and actions when he set up the APRC. The Thirteenth Amendment concentrates all powers in the Centre and the Provincial council is no more than a glorified local government institution. Such a worthless scheme can never be a solution to the Tamil question”.
These facts must be refreshed in the minds of Indian Foreign Minister Mr.Pranab Mukherjee, before he sets his foot in Srilankan soil next week. He should not go unprepared to argue. His visit is not a cosmetic exercise. It is the outcome of a unanimous resolution passed by Tamilnadu assembly and is a follow up to the appeal made by the all party delegation led by Dr.Kalaignar M.Karunanithi which met the Indian Prime Minister to request him to send a stern warning to Srilanka to halt the genocide and war against its own people. Mr.Mukherjee is not going to listen to same musical opera. Tamilnadu reminds him of his historical duty. His mission is not a fire fighting exercise. He needs strong words and not sugar coats. He needs iron will not will that will melt like ice in front of the red towel of Mr.Rajabakshe.
It is needless to say that Rajiv Gandhi’s murder is responsible for the inaction of Government of India towards Eelam Tamil’s plight. The LTTE factor is the reason, all know, and what would you say?
I cannot say poetically as Dr.Kalaignar M.Karunanithi, who said there are terrorists in many countries but nowhere bombing of civilians takes place to tackle terrorism. We in India all know the organization which was linked to the murder of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. The ban on that organization was short lived. It operates openly. I don’t think India can adopt one policy for Mahatma Gandhi and other for Rajiv Gandhi. We all know the Sikh connection to the Indira Gandhi murder, and the revenge killings of Sikhs, but that is past chapter. Now India has a Sikh Prime Minister, heading the same Congress party Government. Even if few Tamils of Eelam are connected to Rajiv Gandhi’s killings that should never be a reason to curse entire 10 crore Tamils spread across the world, nor the Eelam Tamils who are fighting for freedom sacrificing more than Indian sacrifice in Indian freedom movement. Nobody’s eyes were plucked in British prisons; no British sold Indian meat, such cannibals rule only in Srilanka.
Let me quote from the exclusive cover story of Indian magazine OUTLOOK dated 24th November 1997in its wrapper story: THE MISSING FILES. Crucial files concerning Rajiv Gandhi assassination case have either been lost or suppressed. Outlook investigates the mystery.
1. File No: 8-1-WR/JSS/90/Vol III - containing notings of bureaucrats regarding security arrangements for Rajiv Gandhi from November 1989 was lost from the Prime Minister’s Office in 1991. Later, it was doctored and reconstructed by the Narasimha Rao Government, before it was submitted to Jain Commission.
2. File No: 1/12014/5/91-IAS/DIII reported missing since 1995. It pertained to the terms of reference of the Verma and Jain Commission of Enquiry.
3. File containing intercepted messages from foreign intelligence services said to be addressed to Chandraswamy, destroyed by the senior officials of the PMO.
4. File on Intelligence Bureau’s assessment of the role played by Zail Singh and Chandraswamy in 1987 to topple Rajiv Gandhi missing.
5. File with records of official briefings by intelligence agencies on the assassination to Rao’s Home Minister S.B.Chavan missing. The former Minister confirms he was briefed orally.
6. The April 20, 1991, wireless intercept with the leading question-should Rajiv be killed in Delhi or Madras? Missing.
7. File relating to the Rao governments attempt to wind up the Jain commission is still withheld from the panel.
The whole article will be reproduced later, if necessary. But this investigative journal points its accusing finger in its title THE DEADLY DUE.
None from LTTE is branded as deadly due, the deadly duo has Congress connections, and hence Congress party must indulge in self introspection. Even if Eelam Tamils or drop outs from LTTE were tools, who directed these tools to hit. Tamil saying is there: எய்தவன் இருக்க அம்பை நோகலாமா ?
In all political parties in India many people with criminal background, convicted for murders, continue as members. Why the same OUTLOOK before a general election brought out details of 72 Members of Parliament charged with various offences including murders. With more than 30 murder charges, even an M.P known to me, was in Parliament. Does this mean the political party that patronizes those people should be banned? It is ridiculous. Even to highlight the plight of Tamils caught in a genocidal war before United Nations, India has hesitancy. India should not shirk from its moral responsibility as a super power in this region, to save Tamils. India by this time must have sent all help to Zimbabwe to save its citizens from cholera. Such gestures will enhance India’s moral standing. Indian shield for Eelam Tamils will not only serve Indian geo-political interests but also will go down in history as a nation that saved Tamils from genocide.
[ Interviewed by A.S.T.Ansari Babu, Editor : Karai Union Pradesam ]
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
TAMILNADU POLITICAL PARTIES & TAMIL EELAM CONFLICT:
Every word of this letter springs from my heart. Tamils are emotional but their political responses should be rational. Yes on the question of Tamilnadu raising voice in Indian Parliament or presenting charter of demands for resolving the Tamil Eelam people’s plight, we should rise above just one- liners, though one liners will suit for television bytes, we have to present better argument to activate the Union cabinet, unfortunately misguided by bureaucracy . No use in repeating like parrots about political solution without spelling what it is. As long as article 2 of Srilankan Constitution says “the Republic of Srilanka is a unitary state” there is no room for federalism and all talk about political solution leads only to dead end. This article blocks political devolution. It is needless to teach the enlightened bureaucracy at Indian government that political devolution means creation of states with sovereign legislative power on subjects allocated or earmarked for that provincial administration. Then the other dangerous provision from the Tamils stand point is article 76 which states “Parliament shall not abdicate or in any manner alienate its legislative power and shall not set up any authority with legislative power”. Tamilnadu must understand that this article blocks political decentralization by all ways and means. If there is no political devolution or political decentralization, what the Government of Srilanka plans to offer on platter to Tamils is nothing but slavery. No Indian model state, not even Union Territory status is what Government of Srilanka is having in its shelves as political solution. India that has article 370 in its constitution cannot even get that equivalent for Eelam Tamils. This is the ground reality. Then all crocodile tears for Tamils is nothing but to conceal their inability to restrain or stop the Government of India from its course to clandestinely support the racist Srilankan Government under the Chinese phobia or Pakistan phobia. Ultimately by playing with these phobias, Srilanka gets the support of India too in its genocidal war. Whoever headed or heads the Srilankan Government, they were never for resolving the conflict satisfying the legitimate demands of the Eelam Tamils. This has to be borne in mind. The past must be evaluated before accepting at face value the verbal gymnastics of Srilankan President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakshe.
Minimum Demands that were never met:
The following would have satisfied legitimate demands of Eelam Tamils, if Srilankan Government had offered before launching the current genocidal war against Eelam Tamils.
A] Repeal of the Article 2 of Srilankan Constitution to pave way for the introduction of federal form of governance, or for a con-federal system of government
B] Repeal of Article 76 to allow political devolution
C] Amending the Article 18 to declare that “the official languages of Srilanka shall be Sinhala and Tamil, enforceable throughout the country without any restrictions.
D] Amending Article 9 to delete “the foremost place” granted to Buddhism and to declare Srilanka a secular state.
These could be termed as minimum demands that could satiate the Tamils of Eelam. These were the demands voiced from much before British left Ceylon, and were the theme of many broken pacts and failed promises, in which Srilankan Governments are aiming for a place in Guinness Record to be the unique country that adopted ethnic cleansing through genocide successfully, while the conscience keepers of this world remained mute spectators.
The reasons for Indo Srilanka Accord’s failure in 1987:
Before looking back at the broken pacts, let us examine what went wrong with the initiatives of Mr.Rajiv Gandhi. Congressmen are bound to answer why his initiative failed, who misguided him. It is a miserable failure to his foreign policy, which any historian of future will record. The bureaucracy under Mr.Rajiv Gandhi’s government negotiated from 30th August 1985 to 19th December 1986 with the Government of Srilanka. India failed to pressurize Srilanka to create a congenial and peaceful atmosphere in Tamil areas, while both countries negotiated a solution to the Tamil’s problem. As of now the Government of Srilanka pursued parallel military campaign against the Tamils of Northern and Eastern provinces, while negotiating with India. The question that haunts us even today is how a tiny island can defy India, refuse to comply with India’s demand to stop the war machine and negotiate peaceful settlement. Having allowed Srilanka during the time of Mr.Rajiv Gandhi’s governance to opt for sweet dialogues here and aerial bombings to annihilate there at same time, it appears the bureaucrat under the guise of politician, Mr.Manmohan Singh, could only repeat that historical blunder. But it is not so. We should take into account what Mr.Rajiv Gandhi did, when Srilanka was continuing with military solution.
The stance of Rajiv Gandhi outwardly appeared as above and invited criticism among Tamils. But he launched a diplomatic campaign among the international community to expose the human rights violations bordering on genocide of the Srilankan government. This yielded fruits in past. The need now is to adopt the same approach, for which Mr.Rajiv Gandhi’s government had set the precedent. The demands of Tamilnadu should be to urge the Government of India to launch a diplomatic offensive against the Srilankan Government, as was initiated by Mr.Rajiv Gandhi himself during his rule. In middle of 1987, as of now the Government of India intervened to provide humanitarian assistance to Tamils and airlifted food supplies to Jaffna peninsula. This forced Srilanka to suspend war and agree for Indo-Srilanka accord. Now while history is repeating, Mr.Manmohan Singh just sends humanitarian assistance in ships but neither pursues the diplomatic pressure built by Mr.Rajiv Gandhi nor made even an inch forward to clinch another accord during recent visit of Mr.Mahinda Rajapakshe, taking into account the past mistakes.
The Indo-Srilankan Agreement of July 1987 paved way for the temporary merger of Northern and Eastern provinces into a unified North-Eastern Province. This merger was to be endorsed by a referendum before the end of 1988. One Provincial Council was set up in North-Eastern Province as well as 7 other provinces. In order to implement this accord Mr.Rajiv Gandhi sent the Indian Peace Keeping Force in the first week of August 1987. The pressure brought by Mr.Rajiv Gandhi also made LTTE agree to cessation of hostilities. LTTE also started handing over weapons to IPKF. So far everything went well. Then how this accord was sabotaged and who torpedoed it? A general amnesty was granted under the accord to “political and other prisoners now held in custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and other Emergency laws, and to combatants, as well as those persons accused, charged and or convicted under these laws.” Government of Srilanka, known for treachery which current breed of politicians may have erased from memory withheld amnesty to 1250 Tamil political prisoners. This was done by twisting the amnesty clause to say that it applied only to NEP and not offences committed outside North Eastern Province. LTTE retaliated by suspending surrender of arms. Everyone now in Indian Government, especially the so called National Security Advisers, must refresh their memory. All those who swear allegiance to Mr.Rajiv Gandhi must understand that Mr.Rajiv Gandhi almost was heading to resolve the Tamil Eelam issue, but the betrayal of Srilankan Government aborted his peace initiatives. Now, to trust Mr.Rajapakshe that after eliminating terrorism, he has a peace formula under his red towel, which he will wave along with olive branch, would amount to total ignorance of the history of betrayals, for which many Sinhalese rulers till now are held accountable before the conscience of the world.
For further proof that all Sinhala politicians are known for double speak and double act, let me refresh your memory about the 1994 Parliamentary elections in Srilanka on the popular platform of peace at all costs. SLFP leader Mrs.Chandrika Kumaratunge won that election and became Prime Minister. As Prime Minister, she once again reaffirmed her commitment to negotiated settlement. Subsequently in Presidential election in November, Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga won the executive presidency, and instantly she changed her tunes from peace at all costs to seeking peace but not at all cost.
Racial Riots in 1883 hit Christians in 1902 Dalits, in 1915 Muslims, in 1930 Malayalees, then Plantation Tamils and from 1983 Eelam Tamils:
India must tell the diplomatic world that Nazism is not dead, and just because it thrives in a tiny island, it need not be condoned or ignored. The problem with Sinhalese is not Tamil-phobia. They are against everybody. The seeds of hatred are ingrained in their brains. A scholar Kumari Jayewardene, a Sinhalese herself, had chronicled the history of clashes and communal unrest in Srilanka. The starting point of Tamil Sinhala ethnic clashes are considered to be 1983. But hundred years before that, in 1883 the Sinhalese turned their ire against Catholics. The Buddhist religious firebrand Anagarika Dharmapala criticizes the British for their religion. “When the ancestors of the present holders of our beloved land were running naked in the forests of Britain with their bodies painted and later on when their ancestors had gone under the imperial rule of Rome and some of them were being sold as slaves in the market place of Rome, our ancestors were already enjoying the fruits of glorious and peaceful civilization. Buddhism was the religion of the state in Ceylon like the church in England in the British isles” proclaims Anagarika Dharmapala, forgetting what the sacred book of the Sinhalese, known as Mahavamsam says about the first originator of the Sinhalese race. Born to parents who are cross breed between a Lion and a Princess that too born to a brother and sister incest couple, the unruly Vijayan driven by his father with such credentials, landed in Srilanka and married local women, i.e. Tamil, even a Pandyan princess. Then how come Sinhalse can claim racial superiority or purity. Like Anglo Indians, they are half Tamil, half foreign. So assuming they are racially superior, the Sinhalese called Christians barbarians and launched attacks in 1883. Then in 1915, Sinhalese want to drive away the North Indian and South Indian Muslims.
“The Mohammedans, an alien people, who in the early part of the nineteenth century were common traders, by Shylockian methods became prosperous like the Jews. The alien South Indian Mohammedan comes to Ceylon, sees the neglected illiterate villagers without any experience in trade, without any knowledge of any kind of technical industry and isolated from whole of Asia on account of his language, religion and race, and the result the Mohammedan thrives and the son of the soil goes to the wall……..What the German is to the British that the Mohammedan is to the Sinhalese by religion, race and language. He traces his origin to Arabia” incited the same Anagarika Dharmapala. Violent attacks, arson, looting were unleashed against the Muslim traders in 1915.
Readers of both the quotes from a Sinhala firebrand who planted seeds of hatred between communities and who is one among those who ignited communal clashes must take note of a contradiction in his statement. While speaking about British in 1883 he claims Sinhalese were enjoying the fruits of glorious and peaceful civilization. But in 1915, he admits that Sinhalese have no experience in trade and are without any kind of knowledge. Then how could they be the architects of the glorious and peaceful civilization. And that civilization must be of the Tamils, who can establish right up to Indus valley. In between 1883 and 1915, other unfortunate riots hit the dalits from India, who had gone to Ceylon as plantation labour. The arrogant Sinhalese refused to drink tea plucked by untouchables. Later in 1930 the Sinhalese turned their ire against the 30,000 Malayalees, who had gone to Ceylon from Travancore-Cochin state. A trade union leader A.E.Kunasesinghe launched the racial fire against them by his fiery speeches.
Between 1871-1881 when coffee, tea plantations came up in large numbers in Ceylon, lots of Tamils from India went there seeking work. They constituted nearly 10 % of the then population of Ceylon. Donoughmore Commission constituted before independence said out of these roughly 50 percent labour were permanently residing in Ceylon. Jackson Report of 1928 said they were around 60 percent. The Soulbury Commission of 1946 stated 80 percent of these labour were permanent residents of Ceylon.
Donoughmore Commission had recommended that for all those who had lived for 5 years and above citizenship rights must be conferred. Ceylonese Government did not accept that recommendation, thus the crisis started. In 1940 both India and Ceylon discussed this issue. Again in 1941 September there was a bi party conference between India and Ceylon. They agreed joint declaration which emanated in this meeting was not implemented. The irony is in 1942 Ceylonese Government itself written to Indian Government requesting India to permit labour to come and work in its rubber plantations. In the first General Elections of 1947 plantation labour had voting rights. They backed the Ceylon Indian Congress and elected 7 members to Parliament. They were the deciding factor in another 20 parliamentary constituencies. D.S.Senanayaka, first Prime Minister of Ceylon amended the 8 th article of the Citizenship Act and disenfranchised plantation Tamils called as Malayaga Tamils. He passed in Parliament the amendment by 1949 and removed people of Indian origin from the voters list. That is how the voting rights of plantation Tamils who chose 7 Members to Parliament were deprived from them. Then Indian origin people were asked to apply for citizenship. 8, 25,000 people applied for citizenship. Only to 1, 00,000 people Ceylonese citizenship was granted. To resolve this deadlock at London both Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Ceylon Prime Minister Dudley Senanaiyaka talked but could not resolve. In 1954 a pact was signed between Jawaharlal Nehru and Sir John Kotewala, Ceylon Premier. It was never implemented. By 1964, Srilankan Prime Minster Srimavo Bandaranaike and Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri signed a pact, wherein Srilanka agreed to give citizenship to 3, 00,000 persons. India admitted to take back 5, 25,000 persons.
"All American people were once migrants from Europe. Yet no European country foolishly signed a pact with America to take back its citizens. Even after signing such a pact India had left more than 2, 00.000 people of Indian origin in Srilanka. India considers the whole Srilankan problem as one between its original inhabitant Tamils of Ealam and Sinhalese. Dravidian parties have totally forgotten about our people i.e. stateless Tamils of Indian origin. To resolve the hardships caused to these stateless Tamils it is imperative exert due diplomatic pressure. India cannot keep away from any issue of South East Asia. India has left 2, 00,000 of its citizens in Srilanka, when such being the cases how can it keep away? Is it not the duty of India to take responsibility for every Indian citizen on alien soil?" Columnist Rajiv Dhavan wrote an article in The Hindu. “With its open borders South Asia like Africa is a refugee prone region. India discovered this when absorbing the Tibetan refugees in 1959, the Bangladesh refugees in 1971, the Chakma influx in 1963, the Tamil influx from Srilanka in 1983, 1989 and again in 1995, the Afghan refugees from 1980s, the Myanmar’s refugees for a similar period and migration and refugee movements from Bangladesh over the years........ In 1995 India following the Pakistan's example joined the Executive of the UNHCR. Though welcome, this half way attempt seems odd since India refuses to sign 1951 convention. Meanwhile a series of judgments by The Supreme Court and the Gujarat, Punjab, Gauhati and Tamil Nadu High Courts has reinforced the need for humane due process for the Chakmas, Srilankan and other refugees. Some of the judgments expressly recognize the value and worth of UNHCR and invite it to involve more in the refugee questions in India” wrote Supreme Court lawyer Rajiv Dhavan.
Sinhalese against Brahminism:
The Buddhist religious head that had spit venom on Christians, Muslims and Tamils had not spared even the Brahmins. These facts are not taken into account by those bureaucrats in India who support Sinhala rulers. Let me quote the same Anagariga Dharmapala, whose quotes appear in last paragraph too. ‘Brahmanism is only for the three twice born castes. The Brahmins were proud of their mantras. The Brahmin rishis were great in their selfishness. They had spiritual power even to frighten the gods; they cursed the latter when they were angry. It is said that the rishis Durbhasha and Brighu cursed both Vishnu and Shiva. The rishi Gautama cursed Indira. The Brahmin rishis organized the caste system vesting all power in the Brahmins. They organized animal sacrifices. They drank wine, ate beef and took women from the other three castes. It was their privilege. They made laws prohibiting the three castes from taking Brahmin women. They laid down the rule that the issue of Brahmin women by a non-Brahmin husband is to be recognized as Sandala….
The Bhikku sanga became epitome of universal brotherhood and refuge of the high and low. All Asia heard the law of compassion, the religion of wisdom was preached to all, and the dharma of karuna and pragna was accepted by men and gods, Allah, Jehovah Vishnu, Shiva, Kali, Durga, Jesus were names not yet heard in the civilized world. The European races with the exception of Romans and Greeks were then in a state of barbaric paganism. The ancestors of the British were then living naked in the forest. The Nordic races were still savages…………..
The destructive hordes of Islam had then not been born. Buddhism was flourishing in Ghandadhar, Afghanistan, Kabul valley and Turkistan. Two centuries later a new factor came into existence in India which helped to destroy the individuality of Buddha Dharma. Kumarila began to preach his new doctrine which weakened the power of the bhikkus. His successor was the Malabar Brahmin Sankara. Driven out from his native land, young Sankara came to Jabalpore and was admitted to a monastery where he learnt Buddhism. Having studied the Upanishads, he gave a new interpretation to the latter. He poured new wine into old bottles…….
Islam, Brahmanical ritualism and Christianity are the three forces that are at work in India. Brahmins through sheer selfishness rejected the noble Aryan Dharma from its native soil and India fell. Brahmanism is only for high castes. Islam and Christianity are both destructive……
Dravida Peravai wishes to remind the Brahmins who are against Tamil eelam just because of the Aryan tag attached to the Sinhalese must realize that Sinhalese are not accepting Brahmins as Aryans. The above quoted passages must be an eye opener. In orissa certain hill tribes even today call themselves aaranya Brahmins, like that the Sinhalese take pride in calling themselves Aryans, while ridiculing Hindu gods, Brahmins and even their spiritual head Adi Sankara. So the love between Indian Brahmin bureaucrats and Sinhalese is not based on strong foundations, but on a mirage.
Sinhala Racism in Parliament:
With due respect to the Indian Parliament, we wish to draw the attention of the Hon’ble Members of Indian Parliament about some of the highly civilized speeches of the Aryan Sinhalese Parliamentarians.
Mr.D.M.Chandrapala, Sinhalese Buddhist Member of Parliament from Kundasale spoke the following words in Srilankan Parliament on July 1981. “Now Sir… what should we do to this so called leader of the Tamils? If I were given the power, I would tie him to the nearest concrete post in this building and horse whip him till I raise to his wits. Thereafter let anybody do anything he likes, throw him into the Beire [lake] or into the sea, because he will be so mutilated that I do not think there will be life in him. That is war.”
Can anyone in civilized world in any of the democracies of the world, could have heard such a speech. That speech too is against democratically elected Tamil leaders demanding federalism and not independent state at that juncture. There was no terrorist in Parliament yet if Sinhala Parliamentarian spits such venom, how could Tamils live within unitary Srilanka, the National Security Adviser Mr.M.K.Narayanan, who creates an impression that he misguides Indian Government must introspect and correct his wrong steps, if any.
The Indian bureaucracy, unfortunately inherited from a colonial legacy underestimates the elected representatives and their cabinet. They dream that India could be ruled by bureaucrats who are not accountable to public opinion. For their conscience to awaken, Dravida Peravai wishes to reproduce more speeches of Srilankan Parliamentarians.
Mr.G.V.Punchinilame M.P from Ratnapura spoke in Srilankan Parliament in July 1981. “Since yesterday morning, we have heard in this Honorable House about the various types of punishment that should be meted out to them {Tamil Parliamentary Members}. The M.P from Panadura Dr.Neville Fernando said there was a punishment during the time of Sinhalese kings, namely, two areca nut posts are erected, these two posts are then drawn toward each other with a rope, then tie each of the feet of the offender to each post and then cut the rope which will result in tearing apart the body. These people should also be punished in the same way.
…………..some Members suggested that they should be put to death on the stake, some other Members said that their passports should be confiscated, still other Members said they should be made to stand at the Galle Face Green and shot at. The people of this country want and this government is prepared to inflict these punishments on these people.”
If in Srilankan Parliament such barbarian punishments are sought against duly elected Tamil Members of Parliament even in 1981 much before the birth of militant movements, Indian bureaucrats and media who want to uphold the territorial integrity of Srilankan Fascist State, must admit they are fooling themselves and also fooling the world as if they are dealing with a civilized neighboring country.
Having read the barbarian speeches of cannibals, it is time to read the speech of the cunning fox Mr.J.R.Jayawardane, President of Srilanka, which appeared in Daily Telegraph of 11th July 1983. “I am not worried about the opinion of the Tamil people…… now we cannot think of them, not about their lives or their opinion….. the more you put pressure on the North, the happier the Sinhala people will be here… Really if I starve the Tamils out, the Sinhala people will be happy.”
That is what is happening now under the blood thirsty Mr.Mahinda Rajapakshe’s government. That is why Tamilnadu Chief Minister Dr.Kalaignar M.Karunanithi collects funds and pressurizes the Indian Government to send food and medicines to Eelam Tamils. No Tamil in Tamilnadu will tolerate his kinsmen starving in Tamil Eelam. A land where Poet Bharathi proclaimed that if there is no food for an individual we will destroy the world, will rise like one man to destroy the fascist regime of Srilanka that starves Tamils, kills Tamils, uproots Tamils by aerial bombings, but Tamils and Tamilnadu still hopes that Government of India will save Eelam Tamils from genocide and claws of death, through internationalizing Tamils issue and bringing economic blockade on Sinhala country.
Naked Facts about broken Pacts:
Having traced the thorny issues which India failed to handle in the best interests of Indian citizens or people of Indian origin, now let us look at the various peace proposals which Srilanka aborted in the past.
1. The Bhandaranaike-Chelvanayagam Pact of 1957 signed between Srilankan Prime Minister SWRD Bhandaranaike and Federal Party leader SVJ Chelvanayagam reached in July 1957 was abrogated in May 1958.
2. The Senanaike-Chelvanayagam Pact of 1965 was not implemented even though the pact led to a coalition between Federal Party.
3. Federal Party’s model constitution of 1972, submitted to the Constituent Assembly to create a Federal Republic of Ceylon was rejected by the steering committee of the Constituent Assembly.
4. Dr.Neelam Tiruchelvam’s report to the Presidential Commission on Development Councils in 1979 also was sent to cold storage.
5. Indira Gandhi Initiative of 1983 resulted in bilateral talks between India and Srilanka, as well as between India and TULF, yielded Annexure C proposals due to the efforts of India’s emissary G.Parthsarathy, which was also thrown into dustbin by Srilankan President Mr.J.R.Jayawardane.
6. Draft Bill for Provincial Councils which was endorsed by the All Party Conference in 1984 met the same fate under President J.R.Jayawardane’s governance.
7. Thimpu Talks in 1985: TULF and LTTE, TELO, PLOTE, EROS and EPRLF participated in Thimpu talks initiated by Government of India. In that conference all the Tamil parties submitted four cardinal principles as conditions for accepting conflict resolution. A] Recognition of the Tamils of Srilanka as a distinct nationality. B] Recognition of an identified Tamil homeland and guarantee for its territorial integrity. C] Recognition of the inalienable right of self determination of the Tamil nation. D] Recognition of the right to full citizenship and other fundamental rights to all Tamils of Srilanka. All Party Conference proposals formed the basis of Srilankan side. Though talks were aborted a Draft Framework evolved which should have been placed before Cabinet for approval before it could be adopted. But President J.R.Jayawardane did not do that, and it met its end.
8. TULF presented new proposals to Indian Prime Minister Mr.Rajiv Gandhi in December 1985.The Government of Srilanka submitted its views on that proposals in January 1986. In nutshell the Srilankan Government rejected TULF proposals.
9. Chidambaram Proposals: Srilankan Government discussed with the delegation headed by Mr.P.Chidambaram and in May 1986 sent its own proposals to Government of India. Then the Government of Srilanka formulated the Draft Amendment to the constitution of Srilanka to provide legal frame work to Chidambaram proposals.
10. Government of India prepared a working paper on the discussions held at Bangalore on 18th November 1986 between Indian Prime Minister Mr.Rajiv Gandhi and Srilankan President Mr.J.R.Jayawardane. The Government of Srilanka submitted its observations on the working paper on 20th November 1986. Then on December 19th of 1986 talks took place between two Indian Ministers and Srilankan President. All such exercises led to the India-Srilanka Accord of July 1987 known as Rajiv Gandhi-Jayewardene accord.
11. The fate of that Indo-Srilankan accord is dealt in a separate paragraph above which puts Srilankan Government in dock for breaking this accord.
12. Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Srilanka was effected in November 1987, and first time provincial councils were set up.
13. The Democratic People’s Alliance led by SLFP in its election manifesto for 1988 Presidential and Parliamentary elections offered promises to resolve the ethnic problem, but that alliance failed to capture power, so promises remained promises.
14. Tamil political parties ACTC, DPLF, ENDLF, EPRLF and TELO submitted proposals to the drafting committee for the All Party Conference of 1990.
15. Thondaman Proposals: This attracted the LTTE which invited Mr.Thondaman to visit Jaffna to further discuss the proposals but Sinhalese opposition especially by a newly floated Sinhalese Defence Organization paralyzed the proposals.
16. Liberal Party proposals to the Committee on Constitutional Reform in 1992 to resolve the ethnic conflict.
17. UNP Presidential candidate for the November 1994 elections Mr.Gamini Dissanayake presented his Vision for the 21st century, but since Mr.Gamini Dissanayake was assassinated in October 1994; his own political party UNP buried the proposals along with him.
18. The up-country Tamils, people of Indian origin, about whom India never applies its thought after branding them as stateless people, submitted their proposals to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Reforms in December 1994. The Up country People’s Front sought separate autonomous territory for up-country Tamils. This has nothing to do with the North Eastern Province sought as traditional homeland of Eelam Tamils, the original indigenous people of Srilanka. Indian political parties even now are silent on stateless people. The ghost of Mr.Rajiv Gandhi will not haunt over the Autonomous State of Up Country Tamils, hence there is no reason why Indian Government is not taking care of Indian Tamils settled in Srilanka. Up country Tamils are not in anyway branded as terrorists, in fact their parties had been part of ruling coalitions till date. That does not mean India should not open its mouth about the unfortunate people India also made as stateless overnight thoughtlessly by signing a pact.
19. Basic Ideas of Chandrika Kumaratunga made in 1995 when she promised peace at all costs before winning parliamentary elections but changed her tune to peace but not at all cost, after she won Presidential election.
Dravida Peravai urges the Tamil Nadu political parties and its representatives in Indian Parliament to raise the following questions to the Indian Prime Minister Mr.Manmohan Singh, Indian Minister for External Affairs Mr.Pranab Mukherjee and to the man above the cabinet, The National Security Adviser, who is not elected and hence not accountable to people, so could afford to spit at the face of Tamil’s concerns for fellow Tamils across the Palk Straits.
1. Srilankan Governments headed by any President belonging to any political party have never complied with their promises or pacts made with Tamil parties or Indian Government. So many proposals as listed above have been made wasting years and years without yielding any result. India had offered many formulas ever since Indira Gandhi’s time to Rajiv Gandhi’s time, but none of that was acceptable to Sinhala rulers. Now whole of Tamilnadu echoes its unity by a unanimous resolution in Tamilnadu Assembly in November 2008, urging Indian Government to intervene in Srilanka to end the genocidal war. The weak kneed responses of Indian Prime Minister, and his soft requests made as only lip-service to Srilankan Neo-Hitler Mr.Mahinda Rajapakshe has left a deep scar in the Tamil psyche .Tamils are hearing vague promises with oft repeated phrases like within “unitary Srilanka” devolution of powers will be offered to Tamils. The list of pacts broken and promises un-kept must awaken Indian Government to look for ONCE FOR ALL RESOLVING this CONFLICT. What is the magical Manmohan formula to resolve the issue to the best satisfaction of Tamilnadu? Let the Government of India spell out?
Eelam as Independent Nation:
To our humble view there is no alternative solution to Tamil Eelam. This is based on simple logic. If a husband and wife cannot live together, divorce is permissible in civilized world. And that logic applies to Eelam Tamils. There is nothing illegal in Tamil Eelam remaining an independent nation. In the developed world particularly Europe has twelve small states, five of which are islands or island groups. Monaco, a small urban enclave on the northern Mediterranean coast, is one of the most prosperous and best known of all small states. With just 32,000 permanent residents (8,000 of whom are citizens) and 500 acres of territory, Monaco is a sovereign state; its independence is somewhat limited, since its big neighbor, France, manages its foreign relations, postal services and defense, while the French franc has served as its official currency. When Monoco can be independent nation with restrictions, why not that option be given to Tamil Eelam, for argument sake, we are asking the world community. Though we won’t support independence with restrictions as is the case of Monaco, why not even for debate sake no one proposes Monaca model to resolve Tamil Eelam struggle.
In addition to Monaco, the smaller European territories of this type are: the Principality of Liechtenstein (pop. 31,000), the semi-independent state lets of Andorra (pop. 64,000) and San Marino (pop. 24,000) and four British territories -- the Isle of Man (pop. 70,000), the Channel Islands (pop. 150,000), the Faeroe Islands (pop. 45,000), and Gibraltar (pop. 29,000) – as well as Vatican City State. With just 700 residents and 109 acres, the Vatican may be the only state in the world with a diplomatic corps larger than its resident population. When Vatican with such miniscule population is independent nation what is wrong in Tamil Eelam being independent nation?
The Caribbean area has a number of small states, the majority islands. According to our adjusted World Bank figures there are 14 states and 15 territories in this class in the Caribbean region, ranging in size from Montserrat (pop. 6,400) to Trinidad and Tobago (pop. 1,300,000). Belize (pop. 236,000), Suriname (pop. 431,000), French Guiana (pop. 168,000) and Guyana (pop. 705,000) are all located on the mainland. Some of the better-known islands include Aruba (pop. 80,000), Barbados (pop. 257,000), the Bahamas (pop. 284,000), Martinique (pop. 412, 00), and Grenada (pop. 94,500). If these tiny countries can be independent nations, what prevents all these countries from endorsing the right to independence to Tamil Eelam.The Netherlands Antilles (pop. 208,000) is home of George Soros' famous Quantum hedge fund, while Bermuda (pop. 63,000) has recently become an important center for the global insurance industry. The tiny British self-governing territory of Cayman Islands (pop. 23,000) has risen to special prominence in recent decades. The Pacific Ocean region has two dozen island states, ranging in size from Fiji (pop. 773,000) to tiny Tokelau, an atoll with just 1,700 residents. If with 1700 people an atoll be independent, why not Tamils of Eelam have their independent nation? Some of the territories embrace hundreds of islands scattered over more than a thousand miles of ocean. The Indian Ocean is site of four large island groups, including the Maldives (pop. 245,000) and the Seychelles (pop. 79,000), as well as a number of other territories including the French island of Reunion (pop. 718,000). Among the smallest Pacific SSTs, Nauru (pop. 10,000) and Niue (2,100) have specialized in offshore finance, a field where newcomers can have an advantage.
Africa, too, has a number of SSTs – 12 states according to the World Bank count, including the islands of Cape Verde (pop. 416,000) and Sao Tome and Principe (pop.142, 000), coastal Djibouti (pop. 636,000) and continental Swaziland (pop. 969,000), as well as a number of territorial remnants of colonialism, like Ceuta (pop. 69,000) and Melilla (pop. 60,000), Spanish territories on Morocco's Mediterranean coast.Asia, by contrast, has relatively few SSTs, many of which are quite prosperous. The island of Bahrain (pop. 629,000), peninsular Qatar (pop. 724,000), and coastal Brunei (pop. 323,000) are all petroleum-rich monarchies Thirty-two of the Commonwealth's 53 member countries are small states - mostly with populations of less than 1.5 million They range in size from micro-states such as St Kitts and Nevis, Nauru, Niue, and Tuvalu with less than 50,000 people each, to countries like Botswana, The Gambia and Mauritius
The world's political map, dominated by large states, includes many lesser-known small states and territories. Using the World Bank benchmark of 1.5 million populations, there are 56 small states, as well as more than a hundred small territories under the sovereign control of others. A substantial majority of these small political units are islands or island federations, like Fiji in the Pacific or Barbados in the Caribbean. But others are located on the continental main lands, sometimes as coastal enclaves, like Monaco or Brunei, and sometimes as landlocked (often mountainous) territories, like Swaziland or Liechtenstein. A large number of the SSTs have emerged only recently from colonialism.
“If this is the world scenario, Eelam can be independent, can sustain as independent nation, and its demand for independence does not lack logic. Hence Dravida Peravai appeals to all the member states of the United Nations to arrive at a consensus to extend support to the independent nation of Tamil Eelam. If it is true that the Secretary General is the spokesperson of the suppressed people we urge him to muster support for the cause of Independent Tamil Eelam among the member states of the United Nations” says a letter written by me to the United Nation’s Secretary General in 2006.
Tamil Eelam within Indian Union
Before current foreign secretary Mr.Shivshankar Menon was relieved from Pakisthan, on reading about his new posting as Indian Foreign Secretary, Dravida Peravai wrote to him, which will be in our voluminous reports in net world, urging him to consider as last option, to have Tamil Eelam as a state within Indian Union. Eelam Tamils will never accept nor can live in peace under unitary Srilanka. India is concerned that Tamils like Jews should not have a country of their own. If that be so why not absorb Tamil Eelam as another state within Indian Union, I had argued in that letter.Mr.T.S.Gopi Rethinaraj, faculty member of Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, in National University of Singapore, wrote in Deccan Chronicle on 12th November 2008, which needs to be reproduced here.
“Suggestions that the emergence of an independent Tamil Eelam will hurt Indian security interests are disputable because its ethnic and political ties with India through Tamilnadu will be much stronger than a Sinhalese dominated state. However given a chance most of Srilankan Tamils will be happy to live under greater Tamilnadu comprising traditional Tamil areas of North and East of the island as Indian citizens. But India failed to explore the option to integrate the north and east with Tamilnadu when several opportunities were presented that outcome before 1987.”
The thrust here is for all parties to apply their brains to find ways to resolve the Tamil question. India did not fear that West Bengal and East Pakistan will become one Bengali nation, when Indira Gandhi supported beloved Mujibur Rahman’s call for Independent Bangladesh. Then why in Tamils issue unnecessary phobias crop up in the minds of Indian policy framers? To dispel their fears the above said option may be of use.
IF ONLY INDIAN COAST GUARD HAD ATLEAST ONCE IN A YEAR HAD CAUGHT A SRILANKAN NAVAL BOAT THAT KILLED INDIAN FISHERMEN OR IF IT HAD FIRED AT THAT NAVAL BOAT, NO INDIAN FISHERMEN WOULD HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES. Government of India owes public apology to Tamilnadu for not protecting its fishermen from the killing squads of Srilanka.
TAMIL EELAM will be grateful to INDIA, if it takes up their cause in United Nations and among world countries through diplomatic channels to see that freedom dawns.
நந்திவர்மன்
Every word of this letter springs from my heart. Tamils are emotional but their political responses should be rational. Yes on the question of Tamilnadu raising voice in Indian Parliament or presenting charter of demands for resolving the Tamil Eelam people’s plight, we should rise above just one- liners, though one liners will suit for television bytes, we have to present better argument to activate the Union cabinet, unfortunately misguided by bureaucracy . No use in repeating like parrots about political solution without spelling what it is. As long as article 2 of Srilankan Constitution says “the Republic of Srilanka is a unitary state” there is no room for federalism and all talk about political solution leads only to dead end. This article blocks political devolution. It is needless to teach the enlightened bureaucracy at Indian government that political devolution means creation of states with sovereign legislative power on subjects allocated or earmarked for that provincial administration. Then the other dangerous provision from the Tamils stand point is article 76 which states “Parliament shall not abdicate or in any manner alienate its legislative power and shall not set up any authority with legislative power”. Tamilnadu must understand that this article blocks political decentralization by all ways and means. If there is no political devolution or political decentralization, what the Government of Srilanka plans to offer on platter to Tamils is nothing but slavery. No Indian model state, not even Union Territory status is what Government of Srilanka is having in its shelves as political solution. India that has article 370 in its constitution cannot even get that equivalent for Eelam Tamils. This is the ground reality. Then all crocodile tears for Tamils is nothing but to conceal their inability to restrain or stop the Government of India from its course to clandestinely support the racist Srilankan Government under the Chinese phobia or Pakistan phobia. Ultimately by playing with these phobias, Srilanka gets the support of India too in its genocidal war. Whoever headed or heads the Srilankan Government, they were never for resolving the conflict satisfying the legitimate demands of the Eelam Tamils. This has to be borne in mind. The past must be evaluated before accepting at face value the verbal gymnastics of Srilankan President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakshe.
Minimum Demands that were never met:
The following would have satisfied legitimate demands of Eelam Tamils, if Srilankan Government had offered before launching the current genocidal war against Eelam Tamils.
A] Repeal of the Article 2 of Srilankan Constitution to pave way for the introduction of federal form of governance, or for a con-federal system of government
B] Repeal of Article 76 to allow political devolution
C] Amending the Article 18 to declare that “the official languages of Srilanka shall be Sinhala and Tamil, enforceable throughout the country without any restrictions.
D] Amending Article 9 to delete “the foremost place” granted to Buddhism and to declare Srilanka a secular state.
These could be termed as minimum demands that could satiate the Tamils of Eelam. These were the demands voiced from much before British left Ceylon, and were the theme of many broken pacts and failed promises, in which Srilankan Governments are aiming for a place in Guinness Record to be the unique country that adopted ethnic cleansing through genocide successfully, while the conscience keepers of this world remained mute spectators.
The reasons for Indo Srilanka Accord’s failure in 1987:
Before looking back at the broken pacts, let us examine what went wrong with the initiatives of Mr.Rajiv Gandhi. Congressmen are bound to answer why his initiative failed, who misguided him. It is a miserable failure to his foreign policy, which any historian of future will record. The bureaucracy under Mr.Rajiv Gandhi’s government negotiated from 30th August 1985 to 19th December 1986 with the Government of Srilanka. India failed to pressurize Srilanka to create a congenial and peaceful atmosphere in Tamil areas, while both countries negotiated a solution to the Tamil’s problem. As of now the Government of Srilanka pursued parallel military campaign against the Tamils of Northern and Eastern provinces, while negotiating with India. The question that haunts us even today is how a tiny island can defy India, refuse to comply with India’s demand to stop the war machine and negotiate peaceful settlement. Having allowed Srilanka during the time of Mr.Rajiv Gandhi’s governance to opt for sweet dialogues here and aerial bombings to annihilate there at same time, it appears the bureaucrat under the guise of politician, Mr.Manmohan Singh, could only repeat that historical blunder. But it is not so. We should take into account what Mr.Rajiv Gandhi did, when Srilanka was continuing with military solution.
The stance of Rajiv Gandhi outwardly appeared as above and invited criticism among Tamils. But he launched a diplomatic campaign among the international community to expose the human rights violations bordering on genocide of the Srilankan government. This yielded fruits in past. The need now is to adopt the same approach, for which Mr.Rajiv Gandhi’s government had set the precedent. The demands of Tamilnadu should be to urge the Government of India to launch a diplomatic offensive against the Srilankan Government, as was initiated by Mr.Rajiv Gandhi himself during his rule. In middle of 1987, as of now the Government of India intervened to provide humanitarian assistance to Tamils and airlifted food supplies to Jaffna peninsula. This forced Srilanka to suspend war and agree for Indo-Srilanka accord. Now while history is repeating, Mr.Manmohan Singh just sends humanitarian assistance in ships but neither pursues the diplomatic pressure built by Mr.Rajiv Gandhi nor made even an inch forward to clinch another accord during recent visit of Mr.Mahinda Rajapakshe, taking into account the past mistakes.
The Indo-Srilankan Agreement of July 1987 paved way for the temporary merger of Northern and Eastern provinces into a unified North-Eastern Province. This merger was to be endorsed by a referendum before the end of 1988. One Provincial Council was set up in North-Eastern Province as well as 7 other provinces. In order to implement this accord Mr.Rajiv Gandhi sent the Indian Peace Keeping Force in the first week of August 1987. The pressure brought by Mr.Rajiv Gandhi also made LTTE agree to cessation of hostilities. LTTE also started handing over weapons to IPKF. So far everything went well. Then how this accord was sabotaged and who torpedoed it? A general amnesty was granted under the accord to “political and other prisoners now held in custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and other Emergency laws, and to combatants, as well as those persons accused, charged and or convicted under these laws.” Government of Srilanka, known for treachery which current breed of politicians may have erased from memory withheld amnesty to 1250 Tamil political prisoners. This was done by twisting the amnesty clause to say that it applied only to NEP and not offences committed outside North Eastern Province. LTTE retaliated by suspending surrender of arms. Everyone now in Indian Government, especially the so called National Security Advisers, must refresh their memory. All those who swear allegiance to Mr.Rajiv Gandhi must understand that Mr.Rajiv Gandhi almost was heading to resolve the Tamil Eelam issue, but the betrayal of Srilankan Government aborted his peace initiatives. Now, to trust Mr.Rajapakshe that after eliminating terrorism, he has a peace formula under his red towel, which he will wave along with olive branch, would amount to total ignorance of the history of betrayals, for which many Sinhalese rulers till now are held accountable before the conscience of the world.
For further proof that all Sinhala politicians are known for double speak and double act, let me refresh your memory about the 1994 Parliamentary elections in Srilanka on the popular platform of peace at all costs. SLFP leader Mrs.Chandrika Kumaratunge won that election and became Prime Minister. As Prime Minister, she once again reaffirmed her commitment to negotiated settlement. Subsequently in Presidential election in November, Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga won the executive presidency, and instantly she changed her tunes from peace at all costs to seeking peace but not at all cost.
Racial Riots in 1883 hit Christians in 1902 Dalits, in 1915 Muslims, in 1930 Malayalees, then Plantation Tamils and from 1983 Eelam Tamils:
India must tell the diplomatic world that Nazism is not dead, and just because it thrives in a tiny island, it need not be condoned or ignored. The problem with Sinhalese is not Tamil-phobia. They are against everybody. The seeds of hatred are ingrained in their brains. A scholar Kumari Jayewardene, a Sinhalese herself, had chronicled the history of clashes and communal unrest in Srilanka. The starting point of Tamil Sinhala ethnic clashes are considered to be 1983. But hundred years before that, in 1883 the Sinhalese turned their ire against Catholics. The Buddhist religious firebrand Anagarika Dharmapala criticizes the British for their religion. “When the ancestors of the present holders of our beloved land were running naked in the forests of Britain with their bodies painted and later on when their ancestors had gone under the imperial rule of Rome and some of them were being sold as slaves in the market place of Rome, our ancestors were already enjoying the fruits of glorious and peaceful civilization. Buddhism was the religion of the state in Ceylon like the church in England in the British isles” proclaims Anagarika Dharmapala, forgetting what the sacred book of the Sinhalese, known as Mahavamsam says about the first originator of the Sinhalese race. Born to parents who are cross breed between a Lion and a Princess that too born to a brother and sister incest couple, the unruly Vijayan driven by his father with such credentials, landed in Srilanka and married local women, i.e. Tamil, even a Pandyan princess. Then how come Sinhalse can claim racial superiority or purity. Like Anglo Indians, they are half Tamil, half foreign. So assuming they are racially superior, the Sinhalese called Christians barbarians and launched attacks in 1883. Then in 1915, Sinhalese want to drive away the North Indian and South Indian Muslims.
“The Mohammedans, an alien people, who in the early part of the nineteenth century were common traders, by Shylockian methods became prosperous like the Jews. The alien South Indian Mohammedan comes to Ceylon, sees the neglected illiterate villagers without any experience in trade, without any knowledge of any kind of technical industry and isolated from whole of Asia on account of his language, religion and race, and the result the Mohammedan thrives and the son of the soil goes to the wall……..What the German is to the British that the Mohammedan is to the Sinhalese by religion, race and language. He traces his origin to Arabia” incited the same Anagarika Dharmapala. Violent attacks, arson, looting were unleashed against the Muslim traders in 1915.
Readers of both the quotes from a Sinhala firebrand who planted seeds of hatred between communities and who is one among those who ignited communal clashes must take note of a contradiction in his statement. While speaking about British in 1883 he claims Sinhalese were enjoying the fruits of glorious and peaceful civilization. But in 1915, he admits that Sinhalese have no experience in trade and are without any kind of knowledge. Then how could they be the architects of the glorious and peaceful civilization. And that civilization must be of the Tamils, who can establish right up to Indus valley. In between 1883 and 1915, other unfortunate riots hit the dalits from India, who had gone to Ceylon as plantation labour. The arrogant Sinhalese refused to drink tea plucked by untouchables. Later in 1930 the Sinhalese turned their ire against the 30,000 Malayalees, who had gone to Ceylon from Travancore-Cochin state. A trade union leader A.E.Kunasesinghe launched the racial fire against them by his fiery speeches.
Between 1871-1881 when coffee, tea plantations came up in large numbers in Ceylon, lots of Tamils from India went there seeking work. They constituted nearly 10 % of the then population of Ceylon. Donoughmore Commission constituted before independence said out of these roughly 50 percent labour were permanently residing in Ceylon. Jackson Report of 1928 said they were around 60 percent. The Soulbury Commission of 1946 stated 80 percent of these labour were permanent residents of Ceylon.
Donoughmore Commission had recommended that for all those who had lived for 5 years and above citizenship rights must be conferred. Ceylonese Government did not accept that recommendation, thus the crisis started. In 1940 both India and Ceylon discussed this issue. Again in 1941 September there was a bi party conference between India and Ceylon. They agreed joint declaration which emanated in this meeting was not implemented. The irony is in 1942 Ceylonese Government itself written to Indian Government requesting India to permit labour to come and work in its rubber plantations. In the first General Elections of 1947 plantation labour had voting rights. They backed the Ceylon Indian Congress and elected 7 members to Parliament. They were the deciding factor in another 20 parliamentary constituencies. D.S.Senanayaka, first Prime Minister of Ceylon amended the 8 th article of the Citizenship Act and disenfranchised plantation Tamils called as Malayaga Tamils. He passed in Parliament the amendment by 1949 and removed people of Indian origin from the voters list. That is how the voting rights of plantation Tamils who chose 7 Members to Parliament were deprived from them. Then Indian origin people were asked to apply for citizenship. 8, 25,000 people applied for citizenship. Only to 1, 00,000 people Ceylonese citizenship was granted. To resolve this deadlock at London both Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Ceylon Prime Minister Dudley Senanaiyaka talked but could not resolve. In 1954 a pact was signed between Jawaharlal Nehru and Sir John Kotewala, Ceylon Premier. It was never implemented. By 1964, Srilankan Prime Minster Srimavo Bandaranaike and Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri signed a pact, wherein Srilanka agreed to give citizenship to 3, 00,000 persons. India admitted to take back 5, 25,000 persons.
"All American people were once migrants from Europe. Yet no European country foolishly signed a pact with America to take back its citizens. Even after signing such a pact India had left more than 2, 00.000 people of Indian origin in Srilanka. India considers the whole Srilankan problem as one between its original inhabitant Tamils of Ealam and Sinhalese. Dravidian parties have totally forgotten about our people i.e. stateless Tamils of Indian origin. To resolve the hardships caused to these stateless Tamils it is imperative exert due diplomatic pressure. India cannot keep away from any issue of South East Asia. India has left 2, 00,000 of its citizens in Srilanka, when such being the cases how can it keep away? Is it not the duty of India to take responsibility for every Indian citizen on alien soil?" Columnist Rajiv Dhavan wrote an article in The Hindu. “With its open borders South Asia like Africa is a refugee prone region. India discovered this when absorbing the Tibetan refugees in 1959, the Bangladesh refugees in 1971, the Chakma influx in 1963, the Tamil influx from Srilanka in 1983, 1989 and again in 1995, the Afghan refugees from 1980s, the Myanmar’s refugees for a similar period and migration and refugee movements from Bangladesh over the years........ In 1995 India following the Pakistan's example joined the Executive of the UNHCR. Though welcome, this half way attempt seems odd since India refuses to sign 1951 convention. Meanwhile a series of judgments by The Supreme Court and the Gujarat, Punjab, Gauhati and Tamil Nadu High Courts has reinforced the need for humane due process for the Chakmas, Srilankan and other refugees. Some of the judgments expressly recognize the value and worth of UNHCR and invite it to involve more in the refugee questions in India” wrote Supreme Court lawyer Rajiv Dhavan.
Sinhalese against Brahminism:
The Buddhist religious head that had spit venom on Christians, Muslims and Tamils had not spared even the Brahmins. These facts are not taken into account by those bureaucrats in India who support Sinhala rulers. Let me quote the same Anagariga Dharmapala, whose quotes appear in last paragraph too. ‘Brahmanism is only for the three twice born castes. The Brahmins were proud of their mantras. The Brahmin rishis were great in their selfishness. They had spiritual power even to frighten the gods; they cursed the latter when they were angry. It is said that the rishis Durbhasha and Brighu cursed both Vishnu and Shiva. The rishi Gautama cursed Indira. The Brahmin rishis organized the caste system vesting all power in the Brahmins. They organized animal sacrifices. They drank wine, ate beef and took women from the other three castes. It was their privilege. They made laws prohibiting the three castes from taking Brahmin women. They laid down the rule that the issue of Brahmin women by a non-Brahmin husband is to be recognized as Sandala….
The Bhikku sanga became epitome of universal brotherhood and refuge of the high and low. All Asia heard the law of compassion, the religion of wisdom was preached to all, and the dharma of karuna and pragna was accepted by men and gods, Allah, Jehovah Vishnu, Shiva, Kali, Durga, Jesus were names not yet heard in the civilized world. The European races with the exception of Romans and Greeks were then in a state of barbaric paganism. The ancestors of the British were then living naked in the forest. The Nordic races were still savages…………..
The destructive hordes of Islam had then not been born. Buddhism was flourishing in Ghandadhar, Afghanistan, Kabul valley and Turkistan. Two centuries later a new factor came into existence in India which helped to destroy the individuality of Buddha Dharma. Kumarila began to preach his new doctrine which weakened the power of the bhikkus. His successor was the Malabar Brahmin Sankara. Driven out from his native land, young Sankara came to Jabalpore and was admitted to a monastery where he learnt Buddhism. Having studied the Upanishads, he gave a new interpretation to the latter. He poured new wine into old bottles…….
Islam, Brahmanical ritualism and Christianity are the three forces that are at work in India. Brahmins through sheer selfishness rejected the noble Aryan Dharma from its native soil and India fell. Brahmanism is only for high castes. Islam and Christianity are both destructive……
Dravida Peravai wishes to remind the Brahmins who are against Tamil eelam just because of the Aryan tag attached to the Sinhalese must realize that Sinhalese are not accepting Brahmins as Aryans. The above quoted passages must be an eye opener. In orissa certain hill tribes even today call themselves aaranya Brahmins, like that the Sinhalese take pride in calling themselves Aryans, while ridiculing Hindu gods, Brahmins and even their spiritual head Adi Sankara. So the love between Indian Brahmin bureaucrats and Sinhalese is not based on strong foundations, but on a mirage.
Sinhala Racism in Parliament:
With due respect to the Indian Parliament, we wish to draw the attention of the Hon’ble Members of Indian Parliament about some of the highly civilized speeches of the Aryan Sinhalese Parliamentarians.
Mr.D.M.Chandrapala, Sinhalese Buddhist Member of Parliament from Kundasale spoke the following words in Srilankan Parliament on July 1981. “Now Sir… what should we do to this so called leader of the Tamils? If I were given the power, I would tie him to the nearest concrete post in this building and horse whip him till I raise to his wits. Thereafter let anybody do anything he likes, throw him into the Beire [lake] or into the sea, because he will be so mutilated that I do not think there will be life in him. That is war.”
Can anyone in civilized world in any of the democracies of the world, could have heard such a speech. That speech too is against democratically elected Tamil leaders demanding federalism and not independent state at that juncture. There was no terrorist in Parliament yet if Sinhala Parliamentarian spits such venom, how could Tamils live within unitary Srilanka, the National Security Adviser Mr.M.K.Narayanan, who creates an impression that he misguides Indian Government must introspect and correct his wrong steps, if any.
The Indian bureaucracy, unfortunately inherited from a colonial legacy underestimates the elected representatives and their cabinet. They dream that India could be ruled by bureaucrats who are not accountable to public opinion. For their conscience to awaken, Dravida Peravai wishes to reproduce more speeches of Srilankan Parliamentarians.
Mr.G.V.Punchinilame M.P from Ratnapura spoke in Srilankan Parliament in July 1981. “Since yesterday morning, we have heard in this Honorable House about the various types of punishment that should be meted out to them {Tamil Parliamentary Members}. The M.P from Panadura Dr.Neville Fernando said there was a punishment during the time of Sinhalese kings, namely, two areca nut posts are erected, these two posts are then drawn toward each other with a rope, then tie each of the feet of the offender to each post and then cut the rope which will result in tearing apart the body. These people should also be punished in the same way.
…………..some Members suggested that they should be put to death on the stake, some other Members said that their passports should be confiscated, still other Members said they should be made to stand at the Galle Face Green and shot at. The people of this country want and this government is prepared to inflict these punishments on these people.”
If in Srilankan Parliament such barbarian punishments are sought against duly elected Tamil Members of Parliament even in 1981 much before the birth of militant movements, Indian bureaucrats and media who want to uphold the territorial integrity of Srilankan Fascist State, must admit they are fooling themselves and also fooling the world as if they are dealing with a civilized neighboring country.
Having read the barbarian speeches of cannibals, it is time to read the speech of the cunning fox Mr.J.R.Jayawardane, President of Srilanka, which appeared in Daily Telegraph of 11th July 1983. “I am not worried about the opinion of the Tamil people…… now we cannot think of them, not about their lives or their opinion….. the more you put pressure on the North, the happier the Sinhala people will be here… Really if I starve the Tamils out, the Sinhala people will be happy.”
That is what is happening now under the blood thirsty Mr.Mahinda Rajapakshe’s government. That is why Tamilnadu Chief Minister Dr.Kalaignar M.Karunanithi collects funds and pressurizes the Indian Government to send food and medicines to Eelam Tamils. No Tamil in Tamilnadu will tolerate his kinsmen starving in Tamil Eelam. A land where Poet Bharathi proclaimed that if there is no food for an individual we will destroy the world, will rise like one man to destroy the fascist regime of Srilanka that starves Tamils, kills Tamils, uproots Tamils by aerial bombings, but Tamils and Tamilnadu still hopes that Government of India will save Eelam Tamils from genocide and claws of death, through internationalizing Tamils issue and bringing economic blockade on Sinhala country.
Naked Facts about broken Pacts:
Having traced the thorny issues which India failed to handle in the best interests of Indian citizens or people of Indian origin, now let us look at the various peace proposals which Srilanka aborted in the past.
1. The Bhandaranaike-Chelvanayagam Pact of 1957 signed between Srilankan Prime Minister SWRD Bhandaranaike and Federal Party leader SVJ Chelvanayagam reached in July 1957 was abrogated in May 1958.
2. The Senanaike-Chelvanayagam Pact of 1965 was not implemented even though the pact led to a coalition between Federal Party.
3. Federal Party’s model constitution of 1972, submitted to the Constituent Assembly to create a Federal Republic of Ceylon was rejected by the steering committee of the Constituent Assembly.
4. Dr.Neelam Tiruchelvam’s report to the Presidential Commission on Development Councils in 1979 also was sent to cold storage.
5. Indira Gandhi Initiative of 1983 resulted in bilateral talks between India and Srilanka, as well as between India and TULF, yielded Annexure C proposals due to the efforts of India’s emissary G.Parthsarathy, which was also thrown into dustbin by Srilankan President Mr.J.R.Jayawardane.
6. Draft Bill for Provincial Councils which was endorsed by the All Party Conference in 1984 met the same fate under President J.R.Jayawardane’s governance.
7. Thimpu Talks in 1985: TULF and LTTE, TELO, PLOTE, EROS and EPRLF participated in Thimpu talks initiated by Government of India. In that conference all the Tamil parties submitted four cardinal principles as conditions for accepting conflict resolution. A] Recognition of the Tamils of Srilanka as a distinct nationality. B] Recognition of an identified Tamil homeland and guarantee for its territorial integrity. C] Recognition of the inalienable right of self determination of the Tamil nation. D] Recognition of the right to full citizenship and other fundamental rights to all Tamils of Srilanka. All Party Conference proposals formed the basis of Srilankan side. Though talks were aborted a Draft Framework evolved which should have been placed before Cabinet for approval before it could be adopted. But President J.R.Jayawardane did not do that, and it met its end.
8. TULF presented new proposals to Indian Prime Minister Mr.Rajiv Gandhi in December 1985.The Government of Srilanka submitted its views on that proposals in January 1986. In nutshell the Srilankan Government rejected TULF proposals.
9. Chidambaram Proposals: Srilankan Government discussed with the delegation headed by Mr.P.Chidambaram and in May 1986 sent its own proposals to Government of India. Then the Government of Srilanka formulated the Draft Amendment to the constitution of Srilanka to provide legal frame work to Chidambaram proposals.
10. Government of India prepared a working paper on the discussions held at Bangalore on 18th November 1986 between Indian Prime Minister Mr.Rajiv Gandhi and Srilankan President Mr.J.R.Jayawardane. The Government of Srilanka submitted its observations on the working paper on 20th November 1986. Then on December 19th of 1986 talks took place between two Indian Ministers and Srilankan President. All such exercises led to the India-Srilanka Accord of July 1987 known as Rajiv Gandhi-Jayewardene accord.
11. The fate of that Indo-Srilankan accord is dealt in a separate paragraph above which puts Srilankan Government in dock for breaking this accord.
12. Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Srilanka was effected in November 1987, and first time provincial councils were set up.
13. The Democratic People’s Alliance led by SLFP in its election manifesto for 1988 Presidential and Parliamentary elections offered promises to resolve the ethnic problem, but that alliance failed to capture power, so promises remained promises.
14. Tamil political parties ACTC, DPLF, ENDLF, EPRLF and TELO submitted proposals to the drafting committee for the All Party Conference of 1990.
15. Thondaman Proposals: This attracted the LTTE which invited Mr.Thondaman to visit Jaffna to further discuss the proposals but Sinhalese opposition especially by a newly floated Sinhalese Defence Organization paralyzed the proposals.
16. Liberal Party proposals to the Committee on Constitutional Reform in 1992 to resolve the ethnic conflict.
17. UNP Presidential candidate for the November 1994 elections Mr.Gamini Dissanayake presented his Vision for the 21st century, but since Mr.Gamini Dissanayake was assassinated in October 1994; his own political party UNP buried the proposals along with him.
18. The up-country Tamils, people of Indian origin, about whom India never applies its thought after branding them as stateless people, submitted their proposals to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Reforms in December 1994. The Up country People’s Front sought separate autonomous territory for up-country Tamils. This has nothing to do with the North Eastern Province sought as traditional homeland of Eelam Tamils, the original indigenous people of Srilanka. Indian political parties even now are silent on stateless people. The ghost of Mr.Rajiv Gandhi will not haunt over the Autonomous State of Up Country Tamils, hence there is no reason why Indian Government is not taking care of Indian Tamils settled in Srilanka. Up country Tamils are not in anyway branded as terrorists, in fact their parties had been part of ruling coalitions till date. That does not mean India should not open its mouth about the unfortunate people India also made as stateless overnight thoughtlessly by signing a pact.
19. Basic Ideas of Chandrika Kumaratunga made in 1995 when she promised peace at all costs before winning parliamentary elections but changed her tune to peace but not at all cost, after she won Presidential election.
Dravida Peravai urges the Tamil Nadu political parties and its representatives in Indian Parliament to raise the following questions to the Indian Prime Minister Mr.Manmohan Singh, Indian Minister for External Affairs Mr.Pranab Mukherjee and to the man above the cabinet, The National Security Adviser, who is not elected and hence not accountable to people, so could afford to spit at the face of Tamil’s concerns for fellow Tamils across the Palk Straits.
1. Srilankan Governments headed by any President belonging to any political party have never complied with their promises or pacts made with Tamil parties or Indian Government. So many proposals as listed above have been made wasting years and years without yielding any result. India had offered many formulas ever since Indira Gandhi’s time to Rajiv Gandhi’s time, but none of that was acceptable to Sinhala rulers. Now whole of Tamilnadu echoes its unity by a unanimous resolution in Tamilnadu Assembly in November 2008, urging Indian Government to intervene in Srilanka to end the genocidal war. The weak kneed responses of Indian Prime Minister, and his soft requests made as only lip-service to Srilankan Neo-Hitler Mr.Mahinda Rajapakshe has left a deep scar in the Tamil psyche .Tamils are hearing vague promises with oft repeated phrases like within “unitary Srilanka” devolution of powers will be offered to Tamils. The list of pacts broken and promises un-kept must awaken Indian Government to look for ONCE FOR ALL RESOLVING this CONFLICT. What is the magical Manmohan formula to resolve the issue to the best satisfaction of Tamilnadu? Let the Government of India spell out?
Eelam as Independent Nation:
To our humble view there is no alternative solution to Tamil Eelam. This is based on simple logic. If a husband and wife cannot live together, divorce is permissible in civilized world. And that logic applies to Eelam Tamils. There is nothing illegal in Tamil Eelam remaining an independent nation. In the developed world particularly Europe has twelve small states, five of which are islands or island groups. Monaco, a small urban enclave on the northern Mediterranean coast, is one of the most prosperous and best known of all small states. With just 32,000 permanent residents (8,000 of whom are citizens) and 500 acres of territory, Monaco is a sovereign state; its independence is somewhat limited, since its big neighbor, France, manages its foreign relations, postal services and defense, while the French franc has served as its official currency. When Monoco can be independent nation with restrictions, why not that option be given to Tamil Eelam, for argument sake, we are asking the world community. Though we won’t support independence with restrictions as is the case of Monaco, why not even for debate sake no one proposes Monaca model to resolve Tamil Eelam struggle.
In addition to Monaco, the smaller European territories of this type are: the Principality of Liechtenstein (pop. 31,000), the semi-independent state lets of Andorra (pop. 64,000) and San Marino (pop. 24,000) and four British territories -- the Isle of Man (pop. 70,000), the Channel Islands (pop. 150,000), the Faeroe Islands (pop. 45,000), and Gibraltar (pop. 29,000) – as well as Vatican City State. With just 700 residents and 109 acres, the Vatican may be the only state in the world with a diplomatic corps larger than its resident population. When Vatican with such miniscule population is independent nation what is wrong in Tamil Eelam being independent nation?
The Caribbean area has a number of small states, the majority islands. According to our adjusted World Bank figures there are 14 states and 15 territories in this class in the Caribbean region, ranging in size from Montserrat (pop. 6,400) to Trinidad and Tobago (pop. 1,300,000). Belize (pop. 236,000), Suriname (pop. 431,000), French Guiana (pop. 168,000) and Guyana (pop. 705,000) are all located on the mainland. Some of the better-known islands include Aruba (pop. 80,000), Barbados (pop. 257,000), the Bahamas (pop. 284,000), Martinique (pop. 412, 00), and Grenada (pop. 94,500). If these tiny countries can be independent nations, what prevents all these countries from endorsing the right to independence to Tamil Eelam.The Netherlands Antilles (pop. 208,000) is home of George Soros' famous Quantum hedge fund, while Bermuda (pop. 63,000) has recently become an important center for the global insurance industry. The tiny British self-governing territory of Cayman Islands (pop. 23,000) has risen to special prominence in recent decades. The Pacific Ocean region has two dozen island states, ranging in size from Fiji (pop. 773,000) to tiny Tokelau, an atoll with just 1,700 residents. If with 1700 people an atoll be independent, why not Tamils of Eelam have their independent nation? Some of the territories embrace hundreds of islands scattered over more than a thousand miles of ocean. The Indian Ocean is site of four large island groups, including the Maldives (pop. 245,000) and the Seychelles (pop. 79,000), as well as a number of other territories including the French island of Reunion (pop. 718,000). Among the smallest Pacific SSTs, Nauru (pop. 10,000) and Niue (2,100) have specialized in offshore finance, a field where newcomers can have an advantage.
Africa, too, has a number of SSTs – 12 states according to the World Bank count, including the islands of Cape Verde (pop. 416,000) and Sao Tome and Principe (pop.142, 000), coastal Djibouti (pop. 636,000) and continental Swaziland (pop. 969,000), as well as a number of territorial remnants of colonialism, like Ceuta (pop. 69,000) and Melilla (pop. 60,000), Spanish territories on Morocco's Mediterranean coast.Asia, by contrast, has relatively few SSTs, many of which are quite prosperous. The island of Bahrain (pop. 629,000), peninsular Qatar (pop. 724,000), and coastal Brunei (pop. 323,000) are all petroleum-rich monarchies Thirty-two of the Commonwealth's 53 member countries are small states - mostly with populations of less than 1.5 million They range in size from micro-states such as St Kitts and Nevis, Nauru, Niue, and Tuvalu with less than 50,000 people each, to countries like Botswana, The Gambia and Mauritius
The world's political map, dominated by large states, includes many lesser-known small states and territories. Using the World Bank benchmark of 1.5 million populations, there are 56 small states, as well as more than a hundred small territories under the sovereign control of others. A substantial majority of these small political units are islands or island federations, like Fiji in the Pacific or Barbados in the Caribbean. But others are located on the continental main lands, sometimes as coastal enclaves, like Monaco or Brunei, and sometimes as landlocked (often mountainous) territories, like Swaziland or Liechtenstein. A large number of the SSTs have emerged only recently from colonialism.
“If this is the world scenario, Eelam can be independent, can sustain as independent nation, and its demand for independence does not lack logic. Hence Dravida Peravai appeals to all the member states of the United Nations to arrive at a consensus to extend support to the independent nation of Tamil Eelam. If it is true that the Secretary General is the spokesperson of the suppressed people we urge him to muster support for the cause of Independent Tamil Eelam among the member states of the United Nations” says a letter written by me to the United Nation’s Secretary General in 2006.
Tamil Eelam within Indian Union
Before current foreign secretary Mr.Shivshankar Menon was relieved from Pakisthan, on reading about his new posting as Indian Foreign Secretary, Dravida Peravai wrote to him, which will be in our voluminous reports in net world, urging him to consider as last option, to have Tamil Eelam as a state within Indian Union. Eelam Tamils will never accept nor can live in peace under unitary Srilanka. India is concerned that Tamils like Jews should not have a country of their own. If that be so why not absorb Tamil Eelam as another state within Indian Union, I had argued in that letter.Mr.T.S.Gopi Rethinaraj, faculty member of Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, in National University of Singapore, wrote in Deccan Chronicle on 12th November 2008, which needs to be reproduced here.
“Suggestions that the emergence of an independent Tamil Eelam will hurt Indian security interests are disputable because its ethnic and political ties with India through Tamilnadu will be much stronger than a Sinhalese dominated state. However given a chance most of Srilankan Tamils will be happy to live under greater Tamilnadu comprising traditional Tamil areas of North and East of the island as Indian citizens. But India failed to explore the option to integrate the north and east with Tamilnadu when several opportunities were presented that outcome before 1987.”
The thrust here is for all parties to apply their brains to find ways to resolve the Tamil question. India did not fear that West Bengal and East Pakistan will become one Bengali nation, when Indira Gandhi supported beloved Mujibur Rahman’s call for Independent Bangladesh. Then why in Tamils issue unnecessary phobias crop up in the minds of Indian policy framers? To dispel their fears the above said option may be of use.
IF ONLY INDIAN COAST GUARD HAD ATLEAST ONCE IN A YEAR HAD CAUGHT A SRILANKAN NAVAL BOAT THAT KILLED INDIAN FISHERMEN OR IF IT HAD FIRED AT THAT NAVAL BOAT, NO INDIAN FISHERMEN WOULD HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES. Government of India owes public apology to Tamilnadu for not protecting its fishermen from the killing squads of Srilanka.
TAMIL EELAM will be grateful to INDIA, if it takes up their cause in United Nations and among world countries through diplomatic channels to see that freedom dawns.
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