BROKEN
PACTS BROKEN HEARTS
Dravida Peravai released a
White Paper on The Srilankan Tamil issue. It organized an all party meeting to
discuss the whole issue. Its view may not be acceptable to all but in a
democracy various views have to be discussed and no view point could be
suppressed in a civilized democracy like India . We reproduce the condensed
version of the White Paper released by www.TamilCanadian.com, foe which we
thank them. As appearing in Tamil Canadian.com, the text follows:
We have been hearing
parrot-like repetitive statements from policy framers of this country that a
political solution within the framework of a unified nation is alone the only
panacea available to resolve the conflict between the freedom fighters of Tamil
Ealam and the oppressive Sinhalese regime of Sri Lanka . We must go back in our
memory lane to find out what happened to:
1. The Bandaranaike-
Chelvanayam Pact of 1957
2. Dudley
Senanaike-S.V.J.Chelvanayagam Pact in 1965
3. The Indo-Lanka Accord
4. 13th Amendment to
Lankan Constitution in 1987
5. The Democratic People’s
Alliance
proposals of 1988
6. The interim report of
Mangala Moonesinghe Parliamentary Select Committee 1992
7. The Gamini Dissanayake
proposals contained in the UNP manifesto1994.
8. Draft provisions of the
Constitution containing the proposals of the Government of Sri lanka relating to devolution of power by
Chandrika.
23 initiatives between
1957 and now had failed to yield any result. Yet Indian bureaucracy is trying
to mislead this government also that “ political solution” is possible what new
proposal India has which has not been said in of these 23 proposals and which
India thinks can resolve the crisis within the framework of a unitary state. India that cannot resolve Kashmir issue or for
that matter the question of sub-nationalism in India is now gearing itself to
commit another faux pas in its foreign policy. Dravida Peravai urges the Union
government to be clear in its goals, sure of its approach and have a clear-cut
solution in mind before taking the plunge.
The 1978 constitution adopted by the UNP
government (1977-1989) once for all had closed all options towards federalism.
Article 2 of that Constitution declares the Republic of Sri Lanka
as a UNITARY STATE. Article 76 declares that Parliament shall not abdicate in
any manner alienate its legislative power and shall not set up any authority
with legislative power. THESE TWO ARTICLES PROHIBITS POLITICAL DEVOLUTION. Yet
Indian government influenced by quixotic arguments of bureaucrats hopes it can
mediate and resolve the crisis. A clever ploy by the Pro-Sinhalese media warns
that secessionism will rear its head in Tamil Nadu. None thought that Indian
Muslims, who are more in number compared to Tamils, will demand a homeland
here, if Palestinian cause is supported by India . The kind of genocide
witnessed in Ealam is unheard of in Indian soil and condition is not conducive
here for any movement to gain much foothold.
The right of self-determination must be
respected and if India
intends to intervene it should seek United Nations help to hold a plebiscite in
Ealam and accept the verdict of the people. India cannot and should not impose
the prescriptions offered by its bureaucracy.
Many policy makers live in
a world of make belief. They think 1983 is watershed in the history of Sri Lanka .
IT IS NOT SO. IT IS TRUE THAT SINHALESE
STARTED TARGETING TAMILS FROM 1983. BUT SINHALESE WERE FOR ETHNIC CLEANSING
DATING BACK TO A CENTURY. Kumari Jayawardene in her book on Ethnic and class
clashes in Sri Lanka wrote:
The first riots in recent history of Sri lanka
occurred in 1883 at Kotana adjacent to Colombo
between Sinhalese Buddhists and Catholics.’ So religious intolerance is one
hallmark of Sinhalese policy.
While plantation labour went from India in search of jobs, Anagarika Dharmapala
was furious over British for importing untouchables to Sri Lanka . This stands testimony to
the anti-dalit mentality of the Sinhalese chauvinists.
The next to be targeted
were small traders from Bombay and South India . Buddhist religious leader Anagarika Dharmapala
spitted venom in his speeches against North and South Indian traders. The
culmination of this hate campaign resulted in wherein numerous lost their lives
in 1915.In 1930 Sinhalese chauvinists next ignited their campaign of hate
against the 30000 settlers from Kerala. A.E.Gunesingha, a trade unionist
groomed by none other than Communist leader A.K.Gopalan launched vituperative
attacks through his mouthpiece ”Veeraiyya”
So, much before British offered universal
suffrage in 1920, the Sinhalese were keen to get rid of Indian plantation
Tamils. The problem of plantation which Srimavo-Sastri pact tried to aggravate
by terming them as a separate country less people IS A HIMALAYAM BLUNDER
committed by our external affairs policy makers.
Then came the EALAM TAMILS
ETHNIC ISSUE, which has any solution all these years. The American Jews had the
liberty to help for the formation of Israel like a bolt from the blue.
Including India
everyone supported the Palestinian cause. Such cross border support based on humanitarian
reasons cannot be extended by TAMILS to FELLOW TAMILS ACROSS THE PALK STRAITS.
Indira Gandhi can barter away our tiny island
KATCHATHEEVU depriving Tamil fishermen their centuries old fishing rights by
agreements signed during emergency. Yet we cannot seek its revocation in the
light of continued killings of our fishermen in mid seas. We fail to understand
the mindset of the policy makers at the Capital. THEY FAIL TO UNDERSTAND ETHNIC
CLEANSING IS A BARBARIAN CONCEPT IMBEDDED DEEP IN THE PSYCHE OF THE SINHALESE
CHAUVINISTS.
DRAVIDA PERAVAI is bringing out a white paper
on the abortive peace talks pacts, proposals since 1957, which will be released
on 14th May. Meanwhile we urge Union Government not to take any interventionist
decision even on so called humanitarian grounds. WE FEEL INDIA , NORWAY AND UNITED NATIONS CAN
ENSURE CEASEFIRE AND HOLD A PLEBISCITE TO ENABLE TAMILS TO DECIDE THEIR DESTINY
AS PER HIGHEST DEMOCRATIC TRADITIONS.
N.NANDHIVARMAN General
Secretary DRAVIDA PERAVAI
No comments:
Post a Comment