Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) on whether the LTTE is really finished and the war over in Sri Lanka
Vikalpa Video asked the spokesperson of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Nishantha Warnasinghe for his opinion on whether the LTTE was really finished and the war over in Sri Lanka. This video was viewed over 4,000 times in less than 24 hours after it was uploaded to Vikalpa’s YouTube Channel.
Nishantha’s opinion in Sinhala:
Transcript in English:
Right now we are seeing the end of the humanitarian operations initiated by the Sri Lankan Army. After Puthumathalan is completely freed, I believe they intend to finish off the LTTE leaders. After that, I believe that in the near future, we can create the conditions for Tamil civilians to live freely in these areas. One must recognise that this final leg of the humanitarian operations needs to be carefully managed on account of the hostages that need to be freed. Our forces are doing this with great discipline and responsibility. I believe that in the days ahead, the few remaining terrorist leaders will be destroyed and this region will come under Government control.
Once freed from the LTTE, the most important this is to look at relocating the Tamil civilians in these areas, along with en emphasis on reconstruction, rehabilitation and re-igniting development in these areas that has been neglected for decades. This requires infrastructure to be built in these areas. Roads, bridges, restoring the devastation of war, the way of life, language and culture – these all need to be developed. In a parallel, restoring cultural and religious ties between the Sinhalese and the Tamil peoples, as well as the decades long friendship between the communities is another challenge. We need to rise up as a nation and include the Tamil peoples in the Sri Lankan state. We need to build a cultural bridge for this. We recognise that this is a challenge. The Mahinda Chintanaya clearly notes how the LTTE will be defeated and what political mechanisms will be activated after the LTTE’s defeat.
The first measure is demilitarisation. This is already taking place. The next is democratisation, to take forward the democratic process. Accordingly provincial council elections and general elections will be held and Tamil citizens will be able to choose their representatives in these areas using their vote. After this, in collaboration with these elected representatives of the Tamil peoples, developmental activities for the North and East can begin. This is what we call the 3D approach – demilitarisation, democracy and development.
We do not believe that ay discourse towards power sharing exists in Sri Lanka at this moment. Under one country, we must create the environment were Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim peoples can live. There is already a mechanism or framework to share power within a unitary state. Beyond this, we do not believe there is a need for power sharing at this moment. To articulate that there is no space for such a movement / discourse (towards greater power sharing) is the JHU’s stance. Already, we see that the rights of the Sinhalese people, Tamil people and Muslim people are safeguarded under our constitution. This means that our constitution has recognised that all communities have equal rights. Language rights, cultural rights, socio-political rights can all be secured in the current political context. However, we do not think that special measures towards greater power sharing are necessary.
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“This means that our constitution has recognised that all communities have equal rights. Language rights, cultural rights, socio-political rights can all be secured in the current political context. However, we do not think that special measures towards greater power sharing are necessary.”
There is a Tamil saying “the pumpkin in the picture cannot be cooked”. So many good “ideas” are in paper. THEY SHOULD BE PUT INTO PRACTICE.
Please read below for a DIFFERENT way of SHARING POWER in a UNITARY STATE.
Probably the BEST possible POLITICAL solution
An earnest APPEAL to all those who strive for sustainable peace in Sri Lanka
“The lack of engagement and communication, in turn adds to the sense of estrangement. This is not in the interests of either side, particularly the Sri Lankan people who yearn for peace, a just solution to the ethnic conflict and the hope of prosperity at least for their children.” – so said Jehan Perera, Executive Direcor of the National Peace Council.
With the above end in view please spare a part of your valuable time to ABSORB the views submitted below.
Too much of time has been wasted in discussing the origins of the problems and the paths taken by various persons to solve the problems in the ways they believed as the best. The problems have grown and evolved and had been twisted by many to suit their way of thinking.
So, it is high-time we start thinking in terms of a solution that would address NEARLY ALL THE PROBLEMS rather than continue to criticize other people for their “faults”.
Failures are the pillars of success. We have learned a lot of things through experience. With the experiences gained we will have to work for a change of heart not just a change of mind of the people in the country.
“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 and thinking of the ORIGINAL JVP to which Mr.Lionel Bopage belongs and the policy of the present JVP.
A new concept that moves towards a meaningful and just power-sharing arrangement and which is a great deviation from the usual thinking of the meaning of the word “devolution” is given below for the perusal and comments of concerned people.
Many, who call themselves as ‘moderates’ and advocating a “Unitary State” in principle, are not willing to consider this NEW 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” while still maintain the “character” of a “Unitary State”
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 to address many of the problems faced by many sections of the society – particularly the poor, the politically weak and the “minorities” who do not carry any “political weight” – 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 the separated powers from different locations.
It has to be devolution HORIZONTALLY where every set of representatives would be in the SAME LEVEL as equals and in par and NOT VERTICALLY where one set of representatives would be above (more powerful than) 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, the voters themselves – is superior to another.
This system would eradicate injustice, discrimination, bribery and corruption – the four pillars of an evil society – and help to establish the “Rule of Law” and “Rule by ALL” for sustainable peace, tranquility and prosperity and a pleasant harmonious living with dignity and respect for all the 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 in the country.
Since all political and other powers flow from the sovereignty of the people, it is proposed herein that these powers be not given to any ONE set of representatives but distributed among different sets of representatives (groups) of the people elected on different area basis (village and villages grouped) to perform the different, defined and distinct functions of one and the same institution – the Parliament – like the organs of our body – heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes, nose, ear etc. – performing different and distinct functions to enable us to sustain normal life.
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 who aim to preserve 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.
The system suggested is neither “the federalism” for which “Thanthai Chelva” worked hard through non-violent means for nearly thirty years nor the “Two State Solution” for which the LTTE is fighting through violent means for more than thirty years. It is a combination of both and is between both.
The solution can be compared to the policy of the EPDP – a partner in the present government – “self-governance at regional level and collective governance at the center”. The main difference between my suggestion and that of the EPDP is that my suggestion is for sharing of power horizontally and EPDP’s suggestion is for sharing power vertically.
Give and Take is the best policy. Rule or control your “self” and allow everyone to rule themselves.
LIVE AND LET LIVE
IF THERE IS A SINCERE WILL, THERE IS A WAY
On the end of war against LTTE:
I never thought this day will ever come. Yet the LTTE propaganda is controlling most of the people’s minds in places like UK, Canada, Australia. Their propaganda is very effectively organized
Some characteristics of their material.
* They are graphic,
* not in the form of long discussion and
* appeal to the people’s emotions.
* Most importantly, the information is in English and appear first in a web search.
When I look for information from the government or other sources, I find that most of the information is in Sinhalese, so it is not effective in the international community and we cannot distribute this to others who needs to know the truth. I saw the utube video about Norwegian underground LTTE hospital and quite surprised to see this. The World should know ALL about this.
You should find a way to make this information public and distribute to the world and make use of the power of the internet to do it.