Granted hind sight is 20/20, but only people living in fantasy land was thinking back in Jan/Feb/March it’s hypothetical to talk of post-LTTE.

What were the LTTE supporters thinking they would do, after they were surrounded by 200,000 SL Army, with fighter planes, heavy artillery and drones and with endless supply of weapons from China. The LTTE had no supply line to keep fighting and rejected all talk of surrender till the very end. In addition, they rejected talks of civilian evacuation by a 3rd party western power. Delusional thinking led to this disaster or were they waiting for Obama to send help?

I hope we all learn a lesson.

The only major Sinhalese led parties that sought to mobilize minority votes were the LSSP and CP. In 1964 they too suddenly turned hostile to extending even the most basic linguistic rights to the Tamil Community. Since then, individual Sinhalese political leaders have briefly championed peace and minority rights (President Chandrika B in the mid nineties and Prime Minister Ranil W a few years later.) But these initiatives were not sustained. It is only two or three very small political parties in the left that has been consistently supporting peace and minority rights; in contrast, the other Sinhalese led parties have backed the war.

The main political party representing the Sri Lankan Tamils cooperated with the late Dudley S led administration in the mid- late sixties with limited gains for the Tamil people, and with the JR.J led administration in the early administration with no gains. That party has persistently avoided aligning with the left. While the Tamil leaders need to be more open and flexible in building up relations with the left as well as with other Sinhalese and Muslim leaders, such relationship should only be on the basis of equality and self determination- any other relationship would be demeaning. The initiative has therefore has to come from the state and Sinhalese political leaders who should clearly spell out what is offered to the Tamil people. The initial APRC recommendation appeared to hold some promise but it was never on offer.

As a Tamil Guy from the Traditonal North East the Tamil Homeland calling Tamil Eelam, this is few of Steps the Majority Singhalese can do rectify their historical Errors for Start of a “unified Sri Lanka”

Sri Lanka should offically revert back to its constution of 1948 with equal distribution of parliment seats and annouce that its methods the Eelam question was sense less violent handled throughout the decades which created LTTE and other Groups.

Sri lanka should appologise and accept all deaths of the majority 100 000 Tamil civillans, accept it Tortured, Raped, Suppressed & Oppressed Tamils using inhuman norms especially in the Warzone and detentions/prisons! Sri lanka has to accept that it discriminated against Minorities especially the Tamils using Quota and Standardisation Rules to marginalise the Ethnic Tamils in Education, University Seats, Government Jobs! Dissappearances and killings of Journalists, Aid Agencies & NGO has been prominent during Rajapakase Regime!

If these steps are taken some hope for reconsile both ethnic groups is possible but with the current situation the “defeated” is facing imment revenge,hate,anger which is worst possible scenario because some people have rightly said here the more torture,rape, murder in Concentration camps under the lable “welfare camps” for us Eelam Tamils run pure by Army solidiers will increase hate,bitterness and revenge!

So what the majority of Singhalese can do is to campaign and protest from now immead to have these Tamils in those camps overlooked by neutral civillans like doctors, lawyers,Teachers and other professional assisted by normal staff this can bridge,heal some injury and create some level of trust but with Army you will shoot in the foot this 200% guarantee! Maybe you have police outskirt of those camps if security is feared and that too must give Freedom of Movement of People and resettle them back in weeks latest . With this you can win many hearts and a discussion is possible faster to reconsile in few years maybe!

I can assure you the 90% Tamil Dispora hates Sri lanka and Singhalese especially now, even i stopped talking,engaging even having bed things with matter that they pure Singhalese. Lets face this and with more bloodshed of our Tamil brethen you can bet that hundreds if not thousands of fighers within Dispora the younger generation will emerge from here for a “Tamil global call to Fight Racist Chauvanistic Singhalese Sri Lanka” . Also dont forget Tamil Nadu is furios with all Tamils living in Malyasia, Singapore, Maurtius, South Africa , Canada, US & EU. Sri lanka brutal war has unified all Tamils across the Globe and all accept LTTE now even those who were secptical even hated them before.

15 Millon Singhalese though not all racist i accept that but 3/4 of your populition is supporting the War with full hearts which is at end fighting against the LTTE but figthing against the Tamils Rights for Freedom! So this makes all singhalese all anti Tamils automatically

Its sad but i tell you beforehand Majority Singhalese wont change . In this time the crimes in those concentration camps will have had its peak of rapes, murders, tortures by Singhalese Army. The Quest for Freedom will strengthen, more unified on global Tamil scenario, support bases are spinging up like mushrooms for Tamil Eelam check news throughout the World for last Months!

The Genocide on Eelam Tamils by Singhalese Sri Lanka will be out soon, better treat the Tamils now before its late where you be labled Singhalese Nazi!

May Truth Prevail

It is very disheartning to see how majority of the Tamils in the west seem to have lost their sense of justice, sense of judgement, and their sense of seeking truth. Tamils in the west are so divided, disunified, polarized, and some are ironically chauvinistic in their plight to winning freedom. So, I truly want to see a constructive diaglogue taking place rather than cheap talks in the Tamil diaspora to discuss how we can move forward toward a democratic peaceful solution rather than engaging in another war as this 30-year war has brought nothing but blood shed.

In the post-defeat-of-LTTE period, any emerging Tamil leadership first MUST reach out to other ethnic groups of the Sri Lankan society especially the Sinhalese. Success or failure of a long lasting peace in the country is in the hands of all ethnic groups. I am no expert in politics, but my humble opinion is that unless we Tamils have a leadership that is open-minded, and inclusive (of other ethnics in SL) we will never see the light at the end of the tunnel!.

The question reminds me of a television program in Australian TV in the late eighties, named, I think, “Robertson’s Hypothetical.” He poses a question starting with, “IF”. In this case it would be, “If the LTTE is eliminated?” or “If the conflict is over?” Talking about post-LTTE, Post-War, Post-Conflict falls within the realm of hypothetical. Naturally it is a creative exercise, though every “If” leads to nine “Ifs” expnading in geometrical proportion to 81 “Ifs” and so on as the saying goes. I used this tecnique of “If” to stimulate my students creative thinking process. That is, I will pose the question, “If the Sun disappears at midnight and never shines again, what would the students as a group do to keep the human race alive? “How would the world look like?” A more entertaining question I would ask was, “If all males and all females in this world become sterile at midnight, what would the students do as a group to ensure that the human race survives?” The questions lead to discussions of all fields of study. They came up with credible ideas to save the human race. It was all in the realm of virtual reality of course. As the class buzzer rings, we all come down to earth.

While one discuss such hypothetical as posed by Groundviews, it is also beneficial to look at the other side of the coin and pose the question, “If the LTTE survives and continue to wage war in one form or another, what will happen to Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim societies, freedom of press and other freedoms, the economy, the State, the IDPs in internment camps,the Tamil Diaspora?”

April 17, 2009 @ 5:41 pm

Devanesan Nesiah,

In my opinion, yours is the most reasoned, most thoughtful, most compelling reponse to the question. A genuine breath of fresh air. I truly hope that we will see the implementation of each and every one of your proposals. It may take more time than we would like, but I feel that all of them can and must be achieved.

I fully agree with the comments made by “rajivmw” above. But then in my humble opinion it is the failure to see or recognize the real ATTITUDE of the “Rulers” from day one of Independence that made him to suggest the most reasoned, most thoughtful, most compelling response to the question put forward.

As pointed out by Mr.Devanesan Nesaih at the early part of his comment or view
that “If “end of the war” and “post – LTTE” refer to the elimination of the Army, Navy and the Air Force of the LTTE, it is clear that we are close to that end. But if what is meant is the end of Tamil dissatisfaction and resistance in diverse ways (possibly including acts of sabotage), there is no evidence or reason to believe that we are even approaching that goal.” is the practical situation of the day or even of the near future as things stand. For this to happen in the near future the first and foremost need is the “Change in the Attitude” of the “Rulers” becomes essential when he points out “That goal can be reached only through negotiating an agreement and effectively implementing it with the involvement of those concerned.”

The “Attitude of the Rulers” that was referred to above is the trend of thinking among “the majority of the powers that are or ‘Rulers’” is that the country belongs to the Sinhalese Buddhists and that all others are “visitors to the country” who cannot and MUST NOT claim any right to live in this country. I used the words “the majority of the powers that are” specifically to EXCLUDE the vast majority in numbers of the poor peasants and workers and other right thinking persons of all category who sincerely accept the fact and reality that “the country belongs to all”. All programs of the “Rulers” from day one of Independence was to systematically make the “minorities” politically irrelevant in the country through a so-called “democratic” way.

P.V Shanthan said,
April 3, 2009 @ 4:18 pm
.
A political exchange and engagement with the alternative-minded is the only way towards creating a healthy and progressive environment.

realsrilankan said,
April 1, 2009 @ 10:26 pm

There is a very simple way to unite the srilankans with two or more than two federals(rajarata, khote, nuwara, thamileelam.

Devanesan Nesiah said,
April 17, 2009 @ 1:19 pm

If we are to embark on constructing a great Sri Lankan nation from the ashes of 60 years of ethnic conflict, 25 years of civil war and decades of terrible human rights abuses and terrorism, we need radical transformation, not patch work corrections.

In keeping with the ideas expressed and quoted above and taking for granted or assumed that the “Attitude of the ‘Rulers’” has changed, please consider the views given below:

“People who value democracy, equality and equity, needs to pressure the Sri Lankan state to take immediate action towards a meaningful and just power sharing arrangement. That is the only way to ensure security and the dignity of the peoples of Sri Lanka.

If peaceful coexistence through power sharing is not achievable, the only other solution that would be available will be secession” so said Mr. Lionel Bopage, former Secretary of the JVP.

There is a vast difference in the policy of the ORIGINAL JVP to which the author belongs and the policy of the present JVP.

A new concept on “towards a meaningful and just power-sharing arrangement” is given below for the comments of everyone.

The concept outlined is a very great deviation from normal thinking of the word “devolution” and might well fit in with the suggestions made by Mr.Lionel Bopage for or towards a meaningful and just power-sharing arrangement is given below.

Many, who call themselves as ‘moderates’, are not willing to consider this concept which gives a certain degree of ‘power’ with ‘responsibility’ to everyone including the poor and voiceless silent majority in the country and not excluding the so-called “minorities”.

Now, one word, for those who are actually and sincerely interested in fostering a united country by supporting “devolution” as a means to achieve sustainable peace, please avoid thinking in terms of “devolution” and instead please try to think in terms of “sharing” of powers, rights, duties and responsibilities that cannot be taken back at any time by any government or individual by any method.

The best political solution would be to DILUTE the powers of all elected representatives by separating the various powers of the Parliament and empowering different sets of people’s representatives elected on different area basis to administer the different sets of separated powers. It has to be devolution HORIZONTALLY where every set of representatives would be equal and in par and NOT VERTICALLY where one set of representatives would be above the other, which is the normal adopted practice when talking of devolution, in this power-hungry world. It is because of “devolution” being evolved “vertically”, we have all the trouble in this power-hungry world. So, for sustainable peace it should not be the present form of “devolution” but “dilution of powers” or “sharing of powers” in such a way that no single or set of peoples representatives – other than the common people themselves – is superior to another. This system would eradicate injustice, discrimination, bribery and corruption – the four pillars of an evil society – and establish the “Rule of Law” and “Rule by ALL” for sustainable peace, tranquility and prosperity and a pleasant living with dignity and respect for all inhabitants in the country. Everyone must have “equal” powers, rights, duties and responsibilities and most importantly everyone should be deemed “equal” before the law not only on paper but also practically – be it the Head of State, The Chief Justice or the voiceless poor of the poorest.

A detailed version of the concept, which is quite long is available for discussion by interested individuals with an aim to change the hearts not just a change of mind of the citizens of this country with the aim of preserving a UNITARY form of Government with every section of people from every part of the country PARTICIPATING in the GOVERNANCE OF THE COUNTRY in a practical and meaningful way. In a way it may be termed “participatory democracy”. In this system the country is NOT DIVIDED but the “powers of governance’ of the Parliament is separated and administered COLLECTIVELY by different sets of peoples representatives.

In my opinion, yours is the most reasoned, most thoughtful, most compelling reponse to the question. A genuine breath of fresh air. I truly hope that we will see the implementation of each and every one of your proposals. It may take more time than we would like, but I feel that all of them can and must be achieved.

Tamil politics will indeed have to shed any secessionist or other exclusive territorial claims to forge solidarity among Tamil speakers living all over the island as well as all residents (including Sinhalese) of the North and East. While the TNA ( as the largest Tamil party) may well take the initiative in this matter, the major initiative for all island nation building needs to be taken by the two major parties of the South, particularly by the ruling party. Wars do not solve political problems – it is political solutions that are required.

If “end of the war” and “post – LTTE” refer to the elimination of the Army, Navy and the Air Force of the LTTE, it is clear that we are close to that end. But if what is meant is the end of Tamil dissatisfaction and resistance in diverse ways (possibly including acts of sabotage), there is no evidence or reason to believe that we are even approaching that goal. That goal can be reached only through negotiating an agreement and effectively implementing it with the involvement of those concerned. Successful negotiations can only be between equals. No lasting solution can be imposed by the victor on the defeated. Winning the war has made it more difficult to work out a satisfactory solution.

The losers in this war are not just the few thousand LTTE cadres but include the hundreds of thousands of those (mostly Tamils) repeatedly displaced, physically and psychologically bruised, deprived of their dignity, freedom of movement and quality of life and held captive (whether as hostages or suspects or potential hosts to the enemy) in camps or designated areas by one party to the conflict or the other. Whether the State or the LTTE or any other party is held responsible makes little difference to their plight – they are losers as well as victims, deprived of their birth right as citizens, viewed with suspicion if not hostility, and detained against their will.

Even if the suspected LTTE sympathisers in their midst are eliminated or transferred elsewhere, even if these camps / areas are saturated with informers, even if communication with those outside is cut off or closely monitored, frustration, resentment, resistance and revolt are likely to develop among those detained. When those detained (in camps and in designated areas) constitute a very significant proportion of the Tamil population, an explosive political problem will inevitable develop. The solution lies not in further stifling controls but in restoring their birth right to these long suffering citizens of Sri Lanka.

Deprivation of civic rights is the most urgent issue directly affecting a very significant proportion of the people of Sri Lanka. These people may be all Tamils but, surely the issue is of concern to all Sri Lankans. The other dominant issue is the national question. The political problem that lies at the roots of the dissatisfaction of the ethnic minorities, the growth of the LTTE and other rebel groups, the spread of terrorism and the civil war. This issue too is of concern to all Sri Lankans.

Mindful of its own legitimate security concerns, the steps that the state could take to address these 2 most important issues facing the people of Sri Lanka include:

(i) Immediately open all detention centres and areas occupied by IDPs to visits from and the presence of UN, international, national and local humanitarian, religious and media organisations, inviting identification of all unmet humanitarian concerns, human rights abuses and other problems and grievances, past and present affecting the welfare of IDPs.

(ii) Publish lists of all IDPs specifying the various locations I which they are resident so as to facilitate contact with family, friends and others concerned.

(iii) Announce a time frame (covering a few weeks at most, not years) within which all detained IDPs against whom there are no specific charges will (after any required screening) be freed of all restrictions on their movements.

(iv) Facilitate the return (and rehabilitation) of all released IDPs to the areas that they had occupied as an essential complementary measure desist from either the settling or permitting the moving in of any outsiders into these areas.

(v) Resettling and rehabilitating the IDPS will be an enormous and costly process spread over several years, but this process can commence almost immediately. The resources required to supplement those provided by the state will surely be forthcoming in generous measure from donors overseas including, in the context of a political solution, the very substantial diaspora which had previously funded a part of the war effort.

(vi) Reverse all ethnic cleansing and other involuntary large scale movements of population within and from the North and the East during the last 3 decades (including the eviction of people from high security zones, the eviction of Muslims from the North in the 90s, the earlier evacuation of Sinhalese from Jaffna, the elimination of entire villages [mostly Tamil] from the East, etc). This process could be planned and monitored by a team in which the leaders of the ethnic communities evicted as well as UN officials are represented.

(vii) The original majority/ Chairman’s recommendation of the APRC must be implemented as a first step and negotiations begun to work out the subsequent steps based on the principles of equal rights, power sharing and internal self determination within a united Sri Lanka.

(viii) Steps to be taken to establish a comprehensive Truth and Reconciliation Commission to uncover the truth and mete out justice (restorative rather than retributive) to the victims and perpetrators of ethnic violence over at least the last 3 decades. The terms of reference of the Commission may be worked out with international expertise (eg. From ICTJ) and in consultation with the leaders of all major ethnic groups.

The above proposals may appear to be unrealistically over ambitious. But are these suggestions disproportionate to the scale pf the humanitarian tragedy that has crushed large sections of our citizens over several years. Are any of these proposals damaging in any way to the unity and integrity of the Sri Lankan nation? The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the accompanying revolutionary political changes were needed to effect the transformation of the South African nation from apartheid to democracy. If we are to embark on constructing a great Sri Lankan nation from the ashes of 60 years of ethnic conflict, 25 years of civil war and decades of terrible human rights abuses and terrorism, we need radical transformation, not patch work corrections.

We cannot let the question of whether, the democratic Tamil leadership is ready to carry the weight of Tamil politics subsequent to this phase, a question which has so far remained vacuous, be left to remain so. In general, most of those who were brought back from the Vanni were half alive and limbless; the women having to bear the burden of what was left of their families; the children deprived of their parents and guardians; those forcibly conscripted; those made aggressive by the Tigers; the ex-cadres. So, has a base been created for a political leadership that can deal with such a society? Is the democratic Tamil national alliance or other alternative democratic groups ready for this? If they are prepared for this they must have now demonstrated this by working on the ground. Furthermore, in order to face future challenges it is essential that the political leadership does not take the form of the pseudo democratic environment that is currently prevalent in Eastern Sri Lanka.

That is, it should not become an obstacle in the realisation of the highest level of political rights possible, for the Tamil people. Negotiating with the government and the creation of a political future denouncing weapons must be done with tact. Most essentially, accepting a ‘political shift of pawns’ which gives the North to Douglas and the East continuously to Pillayan should not be allowed. A political exchange and engagement with the alternative-minded is the only way towards creating a healthy and progressive environment.

I also hope and pray that with the end of the war, the spotlight that has been cast on the Sinhala chauvinists to drum up solidarity for the war will be switched off and the power supply permanently disconnected.

UNEQUAL treatment of all citizens, for selfish reasons, caused the situation we are facing today.

Now, one word, for those who are actually and sincerely interested in fostering a united country by supporting “devolution” as a means to achieve sustainable peace, please avoid thinking in terms of “devolution” and instead please try to think in terms of “sharing” of powers, rights, duties and responsibilities that cannot be taken back at any time by any government or individual by any method.

The best political solution would be to DILUTE the powers of all elected representatives by separating the powers of Parliament and empowering different sets of people’s representatives to administer the different sets of separated powers. It has to be devolution HORIZONTALLY where every set of representatives would be equal and NOT VERTICALLY where one set of representatives would be above the other, which is the normal practice in this power-hungry world. It is because of “devolution” being done “vertically” we have all the trouble in this power-hungry world. So for sustainable peace it should not be “devolution” but “dilution of powers” or “sharing of powers” in such a way that no one – other than the common people – is superior. This system would eradicate injustice, discrimination, bribery and corruption and establish the “Rule of Law” and “Rule by ALL” for sustainable peace, tranquility and prosperity and a pleasant living with dignity and respect for all inhabitants in the country. Everyone must have “equal” powers, rights and most importantly duties and responsibilities. A detailed version of this suggestion is available and will be “posted” to this site for your comments if permitted.

With that all the micro level stuff will be worked out.

This is in response to the question raised here. My response turned out to be not so succinct, so i thought it best not to include it as a comment, but instead as a post. Please read My vision for my country for my fuller response.

Best regards,

Citizen