Drama unfolds in the heart of Tamil Nadu, with a string of protests led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi condemning atrocities of the GoSL and the Sri Lankan army against the Tamils of Sri Lanka which they believe has reached levels of outright ‘genocide’. A protest is scheduled for October 19 in Rameswaram organised by the Producers’ Council and Directors’ Association and the Nadigar Sangam. To further cement the supposed ‘conviction’ of the Tamil Nadu State was the proposed resignations of DMK MPs which was initiated with the resignation of Kanimozhi daughter of Karunanidhi with several others following suit. The latest addition to these protests is the human chain protest in Chennai scheduled for October 21 which Karunanidhi announced after the All Party Meet of October 14. To add to this chaos pro-LTTE supporters and members of the Periyar Thravidar Kazhagam targeted the office of The Hindu in two separate incidents while another incident on October 16 near the Erode Bus Stand resulted in burning of 2400 copies of The Hindu and 390 copies of Business Line by pro-LTTE slogan shouting hooligans.
What is the real reason behind this reactive pressure by the Tamil Nadu government and other like minded parties? Karunanidhi has definitely created a stir in the dynamics of the Sri Lankan conflict especially in terms of adding strength to the renewed cry for intervention by India in accelerating a settlement to Sri Lanka’s protracted conflict. It definitely has provided enough pressure for the Central Government to intervene by pressurizing in return the Sri Lankan government to seek a negotiated settlement. Nevertheless, Karunanidhi’s ‘commitment’ towards the suffering of the Tamil people seems sadly lopsided as is the case with the politics of the Sinhala chauvinists and Tiger fascists. While demanding that the Central Government stop military aid and facilitate an immediate ceasefire, both quintessential in terms of ending the military offensive it will not create a palpable move towards a settlement to the conflict per se.
Furthermore, Karunanidhi’s action has only infused a renewed agitation of pro-LTTE forces in Tamil Nadu which has been gradually gaining momentum, especially activities of Vaiko of MDMK, Director Seeman and other pro-LTTE film artistes. What is most absurd in terms of the demands made by these protests is the statement that the Tamils in Sri Lanka are being subject to genocide by the GoSL. There definitely is a humanitarian crisis but it cannot be exaggerated into unbelievable proportions by labeling it as genocide. Furthermore, one important aspect is that the LTTE is quite obviously, equally responsible for the humanitarian crisis in the Wanni. The LTTE has been using its own people as human shields and have been obstructing civilians from moving into safer areas. There have also been reports of forced recruitment. The LTTE has begun bombing parts of the A9 road obstructing the flow of supplies to civilians. This is not to say the GoSL is any better. The Security Forces have been harsh in their treatment of civilians that manage to move away from Wanni with reports of increased incidents of sexual and gender based violence caused by poor living conditions. According to Amnesty International ‘around a third of these families are living in the open air with no shelter. Many cannot receive food, tarpaulin for temporary shelters and fuel because of a lack of access into LTTE-controlled areas and restrictions on goods going through Omanthai - the crossing point between government-controlled territory and that held by the LTTE. Some families have been forced to move several times. Amnesty International has also received reports that the government is housing those who have been able to leave LTTE areas in temporary shelters that often operate as de facto detention centres. Witnesses from Kalimoddai camp in Mannar district told Amnesty International that more than 200 families who are held there cannot exit the camp for any reason (except to go to school) without obtaining a pass from the government’s security forces’.
In this context, what is sadly amiss in terms of Tamil Nadu’s demands of the Indian Government is the stress on applying equal amount of pressure on both the GoSL and the LTTE. This has been a common and disappointing trend in terms of most international protests spearheaded by groups in the Diaspora. It is important to place equal pressure on human rights abusers in terms of the conflict in Sri Lanka. All parties to the conflict have equal responsibility and have to be held accountable for the loss of life and the destruction of living conditions of civilians caught up in somebody else’s war. Karunanidhi with all his clout should concentrate in assisting the Tamils caught up in the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka by working with international organisations in the provision of relief items without passing the onus on to the Central Government. What about the plight of the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu? Most living in camps such as the Mandapam camp live under terrible living conditions. Why doesn’t the Tamil Nadu State government channel their efforts into the provision of a better system in processing these refugees and providing them with appropriate arrangements?
Coming back to the issue of the Tamil Nadu protests, it is important to consider some important aspects raised by Opposition Party AIDMK leader Jayalalitha. The following are the salient points included in the statement issued by AIDMK:
*The Tamil people are also equal citizens of Sri Lanka as are all others.
*We respect their struggle for equal rights.
*We accept their earnestness in creating an independent homeland within the political and legal framework of Sri Lanka.
*We are pained to see the thousands of Tamils that have been killed as a result of a war that has lost direction. We are against this war that has been the reason for such loss of life.
*We cannot accept the assassination of India’s former Prime Minister and other leaders who had struggled for the emancipation of the Tamils.
*We support the Tamil people’s struggle towards self determination and oppose terrorisation by groups bearing arms.
*We cannot let armed conflicts destruct the law, order, peace and sovereignty of India.
*As a result of the current war in Sri Lanka many innocent Tamil civilians are without food, clothing, shelter and medication. The Central Government must take measures to get humanitarian relief across to these civilians.
In comparison to the claims made by Karunanidhi and his stooges, Jayalalitha has very succinctly put down the issues in concern. It is on this basis that India must work its intervention in the Sri Lankan conflict. This clearly outlines that armed groups such as the LTTE and the government supported TMVP must be held under serious check and that any international or regional pressure must revolve around these key players. Jayalalitha has reiterated the importance of understanding the true meaning of self-determination which has so far been treated as a taboo word by Sinhalese chauvinists while the LTTE has been insinuating the minds of Tamils to believe that self determination amounts to sole representatorship by the LTTE.
Despite the shortcomings and the lack of a balanced demand by Tamil Nadu, it has definitely provided the necessary opening for the Indian Government to intervene and accelerate a negotiated settlement to Sri Lanka’s conflict. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s response to the Tamil Nadu protests has been that India cannot intervene in the affairs of Sri Lanka as it is not an Indian State and that Sri Lanka’s sovereignty must be respected at all times. Singh continues to state that Sri Lanka must work towards a politically negotiated settlement. In this light, India should play a proactive role in accelerating the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) process in Sri Lanka. We can only hope that India will intervene as a regional power and help Sri Lanka find a political solution to its conflict soon and diplomatically use the drama Tamil Nadu is currently enacting to help take the leap forward.
5 comments:
Tamil Poet has emailed a reply to our post which we are publishing here on his/her behalf:
I wanted to post a reply but not able to do so.
My reply is:
It never become possible for us to explain our sufferings in the hand of Sinhala Calvinist since 1956. Not even our Sinhalese comrades understand it since 1983. Nationalism become so strong and so wide spared in the past 50 years. Only different that we Tamils weather comrades or opponents to Sinhalese are at the receiving end. I consider the attitude of the Sinhala establishment against us is genocidal. As a result of this 50 years of oppression and atrocities of the Sinhalese establishments - to destroy the struggle of the Tamil people since the time of S,J,V,Chelvanayagam - have removed all the rooms for confidence of co existence.
Now with the globalization we Tamils are speedily becoming the part of the globalization of world Tamils which includes Tamils of Tamilnadu. North east water becoming strategic for the survival of India as a regional power against China and Pakistan. In the name of oil exploration China is already in Palk strait. Naturally as we have lost all the hopes and space in Sri Lanka we are looking towards international Tamils and India for our survival. Integration of world Tamils and North east waters become our bargaining chips with India. India wants to deal with defeated and weaken Elam Tamil leadership that are forced to come behind them by Sinhalese war mongers. So they encourage Sinhalese establishment to fight there's war to tame LTTE. Sinhalese establishment now fighting a war against the future of the Sinhalese. The genocidal attitude and the war of the Sinhalese establishment is now succeeded in forcing Tamils behind India. Not only Pillaiyan and Daglus but also LTTE forced to function in this situation created by the genocidal war. Sinhalese who have lost all of their war is now fighting the Indian's war to tame Tiger very successfully. This was not the situation during the first intervention of India in 1987. Even though India dismantle Sinhalese settlements in Trincomale LTTE was not willing to work with them that time.
For Tamils survival become more important than the boundaries and the for of the future state. Many Tamils of the world thing living with New Delhi more safe to Elam Tamils than begging Colombo for mercy. At last after 25 years of genocidal war Sinhalese soldiers are wining the Indians war.
In terms of the history of the Sri Lankan conflict, many incidents amounting to genocide by Sinhala racists and chauvinists led by the GoSL cannot be denied and cannot be excused. Colonisation of Sinhalese in lands owned/ occupied by Tamils, the pogroms of 56, 77, 83 are some examples that lend evidence to this claim.
In terms of genocide, several Tamil militant groups including the LTTE have also engaged in similar pogroms against the Sinhala and Muslim communities. Specifically, the LTTE in order to pursue their agendas have killed many of their own Tamils in the name of caste and in order to stifle dissent which they consider as traitorous.
In this light the current war waged by the GoSL to re-capture areas under LTTE control cannot be considered as genocide. As mentioned in my post there is undoubtedly a massive humanitarian crisis which both the GoSL and the LTTE are equally to blame. I am sure academics like you realise the difference between genocide and war/humanitarian crisis and have an important role in explaining to the international community of the true state of matters.
What is happening in Tamil Nadu is clearly an exaggeration of the true state of affairs. India should apply enough pressure on both the GoSL and the LTTE to arrive at a political solution which is the only way to stop further loss of life and human dignity in Sri Lanka.
Tamil Poet has sent SahaSamvada another email comment which is published below:
Dear Samvada, Thanks for your concern. We at the receiving end have considered the war is genocidal. You have the luxury of jargans and theories. Fore some of you government is your government. So the military. Nun of our leaders including Raviraj who speak Sinhalese was able to talk to your leaders like MR and GR. They are no mre. Tamil militancy and LTTE is our problem. We don't need any one potentate to deal this problem. All of our former leaders not treated as equals by Sinhalese. This situation only created present scenario. Now if Sinhalese want to speak with Tamils let them speak to LTTE. We know how to handle LTTE and when. We don't need dons or crocodile tears. If Sinhalese can talk through LTTE we can Talk. Or otherwise leave us we will solve our problem with the help of world Tamils.
Poet
Dear Tamil Poet
What makes you think that we are also not at the receiving end. As is the general case if someone is against the LTTE they are considered as being pro-government. Well for your information as well for others who keep thinking we are living in AC comfort, we can only say that you are sadly mistaken. If you really think that you can be of any help to your fellow Tamils maybe you can start by not tagging people who are critical of their own Tamils who keep believing that the armed struggle is the only way out and foolishly destroy their own people, pro-government and pro-this and that. The only way to make the situation better is accept positive criticism especially from Tamils for whom you are supposedly struggling for.
The comment by 'where is justice?' has been moderated for containing an image that we feel is inappropriate. We are publishing only the text part of the comment below:
Where is justice? says:
you can sit in your safe AC room with wife and kids and lecture tamils,but what about the above Tamil kids? They were chased out of their homes by artillerry shelling. when they were living in refugee camps the sinhalas dropped bomb from the air.
walk in the shoes of tamils before lecturing
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