Comments on: Pricking the conscience on reminiscences of ‘Black July’

By: Ekcol

Ekcol — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:36:59 +0000

Dear Austin,
You did a lot to advance understanding and assistance to displaced Tamils and everyone who were displaced due to tsunami. Yo cut through red tapes. Why don’t you visit Kilinochchi and meet with Nadesan. You can go as a citizen visiting persons with whom you have interacted cordially and peacefully. Visit the TRO and the IDP camps. Take Bradman with you. That will be a start.

By: Austin Fernando

Austin Fernando — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:35:30 +0000

Dear Ekcol,

What I say is that we cannot leave such a serious issue only in the hands of politicians.Can the public do something about it as civil society? Can we expect Tigers to cooperate in such efforts?

As much as there is frustration and consternation in the minds of Tamils, there is similar concern, frustration and consternation in the minds of Sinhalese and Muslims. This gap of suspicion and unpredictability is widening every day polarizing our thinking on everything we do. Narrowing it down the only solution until the two ends meet. Are we (i.e. Government, LTTE, other political parties , civil society etc) ready for it? Have they got plans? I am uncertain of the status, other than to say “NO”. It is a pity.

Let’s try to find solutions that will acceptable so that the sustainability will remain intact.

By: RSR

RSR — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:33:26 +0000

I too remember Black July. On Thursday a Tamil lady classmate of my sister visited UK from SL and we had such a nice chat about old times. It is a small percentage of politically motivated people, thugs and terrorists who have destroyed our national unity and country.

During Black July a certain Dr. Thavarasah, his wife and daughter hid in the bag of our house . Sure enough the thugs came. I was then quite young but went out with my dog a Sri lankan Rice hound and smiled and chatted to them. The thugs were horrible and had all sorts of weapons and metal bars etc. Any way good thing was they trotted off without even asking to search the house or trying to break in. I hear Dr Thavarasah is in Malaysia and I hope he and his family are well.

By: Ekcol

Ekcol — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 07:30:17 +0000

Mr. Austin Fernando,
You did your best during the time you were Defence Sec. I admired your efforts and continued concern. But your PM, GL, Morogoda and others had their own agenda to trap and divide the LTTE. They succeeded to some extent. If the ceasefire implementation was honoured; the agreements at the Peace Talks were made good instead of giving excuses to get out of it; If the LTTE was not excluded from the meeting in Wash DC and their offer to discuss Federalism was taken up; If serious response was given to the agreement at the talks to form an Interim Administration; If the PTOMS were given serious hearing, we would have a solution and peace now. But the UNP leaders and SLFP Leaders knew the Sinhala voters would not accept Federalism.

The Black July is now repeated daily by the armed forces lead by the Rajapakse Dynasty blessed by the Mahanayakas.
Some Tamils run away, others turn the other cheek, and still others bury their identity, but there are Tamils who hit back in return. Those who ran away support those Tamils who are hitting back. To the Sinhala Leaders this is something like a slave hitting his benevolent master, little realising that the Tamils are nobody’s slave and they are responding in kind to those who abuse the Tamil community. This is reality now Mr. Fernando. All the Pogroms since 1956 gradually has transformed the pliable and accommodating Tamil community to the aggressive community that now demands equality of communities.

Sooner we come to a solution that would let the Tamil and the Sinhala Community to have their own self-governments with a coordinating institution, sooner we will have peace. I wonder how many Sinhalese will agree to such a solution? My guess is 33%!