Heeding the voices of the North
The results of the elections to the Jaffna Municipality and Vavuniya Urban Council are an instructive measure of the distance to be traveled for peace, reconciliation and national unity. In both cases voter turn out was relatively low, though in the case of the Jaffna Municipality not as low as some commentators have made out. This is because the turn out figure has been calculated on the voter registry of some 104,000 electors, when in actual some 41,000 polling cards could not be distributed on account of the absence of voters from the municipality. They have either come south, joined the diaspora or are languishing in camps unaware of the procedures required for the exercise of their franchise or just not interested in doing so. Consequently, the turn out figure of 20% should be doubled and will effectively stand at something like 40% – some 7% lower than in the 2004 election during the ceasefire period when the LTTE got proactively involved in any number of bad practices to manufacture an electoral result to its liking.
Either way, what is interesting is that in both cases many people who could vote did not, and this in turn was not because they did not possess the relevant voter identification documents, but because they were not interested in doing so. They were interested it appears, in making a point by not doing so. The point they wished to make by staying away from the polling booth was about the inappropriateness of these elections at this time when numerous relations and friends are being detained in camps. They also wanted to register their disdain for elections that had little or nothing to do with their priorities.
This begs the question of what the regime hoped to achieve by calling elections to these local bodies at this point in time. Was it to demonstrate to the international community that a political process was in train in the north and that no time was being lost in mainstreaming democracy there? Was it also aimed at ascertaining opinion in the north in the confident hope that the people there would express their gratitude to the regime for liberating them from the cruel and stultifying yoke of the LTTE? The results confirm that regime expectations along these lines have not been fulfilled. They also indicate that the Tamil nationalist project is alive and that it probably does not look to the Thirteenth Amendment for life support or salvation. No ringing endorsement of the EPDP and/or UPFA. And despite the spin of many a commentator, Mr Devananda is a savvy enough politician to know this. Not surprisingly he is reported to be very disappointed.
Over half the people who were able to vote did not. Of those who did in Jaffna for example, the EPDP/UPFA polled just over 2,000 more votes than the TNA. A significant number of EPDP/UPFA votes were from the Muslim community. As some commentators have pointed out, the combined TNA/TULF vote amongst the Tamil community probably exceeds that of the EPDP/UPFA. Moreover, the vast majority of the Tamils who were able to vote were from the fishing community – a community the regime has cultivated and one whose substantial support it expected on account of its easing the restrictions imposed on fishing. Remedias, a human rights lawyer and TNA mayoral candidate secured the highest number of preferences overall. The EPDP/UPFA candidate could not secure enough preferences to get elected. The much hyped release of some 3,000 IDPs does not seem to have provided the electoral bounce, this blatantly opportunistic act was surely intended to achieve.
Mr Devananda’s disappointment may well be compounded by the growing realization of a very real political dilemma that has been in the making for some time. He may well be wondering if he would have done better had he run on his own symbol and not given in to regime pressure to run on theirs. After all his political profile is characrterized by his unrelenting resistance of the LTTE and unwavering fidelity to the Thirteenth Amendment? Will it now have to be characterized by helplessness in the face of regime force majeure as well as its longest running farce on devolution? As one commentator has pointed out, Douglas’s debacle on the UPFA ticket coincided with newspaper reports of regime plans to pass legislation against ethnically based parties. It would seem that the regime is enamoured with the Malaysian UMNO formula and wants no track with the Unity in Diversity principle. Douglas Devananda, to his credit, does not want to be a Northern Karuna, and after 8 August should make this very clear to the regime.
Neither do the results give the TNA cause for complacency even if they do provide some cause for comfort. If the TNA is to retain the stewardship of the Tamil nationalist project it will have to re fashion it within the parametres of a united Sri Lanka. It also must come out with proposals on IDP return and resettlement and on economic recovery and development of the north. It should not forget that people stayed away from the polls on their own accord and not because the TNA asked them to do so. There is a democratic deficit and the TNA should address itself to bridging it or else they too could encounter diminishing electoral returns into the future.
An unequivocal message from the election results is the centrality of the IDP issue in the hearts and minds of the northern voter. The message the international community too should take from these results is that the prospects for peace, reconciliation and unity will be significantly retarded if there is no demonstrable progress on letting these poor people go. Furthermore, when the results of elections in the north are contrasted with that in Uva and other provinces that have polled in the rest of the country, a stark division of opinion with regard to the regime is abundantly clear. We are still divided and polarized with the need of the hour being peace, reconciliation and unity.
In order to move on these with the urgency they demand and deserve, there should be a time-table for return with priority given and public services restored to those areas, which are not mined or which are least mined. Do we have to wait for another election for another handful of IDPs to be released? On the political front, if the regime is serious about a settlement, it should bring the APRC process to a conclusion and publish its recommendations. The country needs to know as to whether the Thirteenth Amendment will be implemented in full and/or as to whether it will be expanded upon. Does the status quo stay intact, or is to be reformed? And as for human rights is this regime willing and/or able to reverse the culture of impunity in respect of violations. Consider the fate of the COI, its report and the items on the MOD website. As for the Rule of Law, consider the assault on Nipuna Ramanayake.
The first indications of post –war opinion in the north have been received. They need to be heeded if the country is to be healed.
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What, no claims of vote rigging? How strange.
The claim”Douglas Devananda, to his credit, does not want to be a Northern Karuna, and after 8 August should make this very clear to the regime” is misplaced. He has already somersaulted on the question of merger of North and East. . His rhetoric that he is for autonomy at the provincial level and federalism at the centre is now in tatters. With all his big talk he could not say no to Rajapakse and contest the elections on EPDP symbol, thus losing his identity. I confidently predict he will go the way of Karuna soon. Beggars cannot be choosers.
The first responsibility of the IC and the UNO is to bring SL govt before the International Crime Court for the Genocide of Tamils in Mullaitivu.
Whether LTTE is wiped out or not is not paramount but what LTTE has exposed of what both SLFP lead Sinhalese government can do to the Tamils and other minorities and what UNP lead government can do to the Tamils and other minorities have been proved under Ranil and Rajapakse. One was a friendly killer the other was a mad killer. Behavior of the IC and India under both these regimes also has exposed the Tamils where they stand in this world and how to become a strong community to withstand all these injustices by becoming united and
resolute. These elections are like past time games. The truth is that ,the Sinhala law makers abused the legislature and the “constitution” to change the politics of legitimate rights of the people of North East (NE), Tamils for self governance and self determination into hate, military warfare and the present brutal acts of genocide. They extended the draconian Emergency Laws, repeatedly on a monthly basis, knowing full well the acts of genocide and to what that would lead to.
@ N.Balasubramaniam
//The first responsibility of the IC and the UNO is to bring SL govt before the International Crime Court for the Genocide of Tamils in Mullaitivu.
They can count their chicken before that. No Western country will even dare to do it because it will come back to bite their backs for what they’ve done in Afghanistan and Iraq. BTW who says Tamils were genocided? It’s LTTE trumpets like you. Either you don’t know what is genocide or you are talking rubbish. There had been casualties and some of them are civilians which cannot be prevented. BTW thousands died in South in the hands of LTTE, just by bombs, unlike Tamils who were caught in crossfire. Do any Tamil condemn what LTTE did to normal Sinhala people?
//The truth is that ,the Sinhala law makers abused the legislature and the “constitution” to change the politics of legitimate rights of the people of North East (NE), Tamils for self governance and self determination into hate, military warfare and the present brutal acts of genocide.
Sorry it was your elite class by asking 50-50 created the problem. They somehow put the fairytale that Tamils are not treated properly because hey are Tamils. The truth was people in North, East and Uva were suffering without any racial discrimination. Somehow your dirty politicians to grab power brainwashed you asking for a separate state. 12% of people to have 33% of the country? Fly a kite man.
Firsrt responsibility of IC is to at least now hand over all wanted people in connection with LTTE movement as it is a banned organisation .But unfortunately they are stilll harbouring them.it proves the world that they are really commited to respect the international law.It is clear that not only the sinhala leaders but even tamil leaders who were elected to the parliament should be responsible for not doing fiar to not only for the bettrment of tamils but sinhalese too.The impoartnat thing to note is that even the sinhalse people are not treated fairly and equally by the elected governments sinced independance .but unfortunately the tamils are in the openion that just because they are tamils(minorty) they are not treated well. it is a wrong conception.Poor ordinary sinhalese or tamils can not be responsible for what the elected governments failed to do.therefore what should be done is to find a leadership who can understand the plight of the ordinary people in Sri lanka wether he is a tamil or a muslim or a sinhalse.
Governmetn was so hasty in holding election and it was at the top of their agenda .rather than attending in allother important issues like addresssing the burning problems of displaced people in north and east. Government was warned by other political parties that it is not the right time to hold elections in north and east .but the Mahinda Rajapaksha govt was not heeding to it .But the government wanted to show the world that the Mhainda Rajapaksha government is so popular among not only sinhalse in south but also among tamils in north. And the final outcome was their unpopularity specially among the tamils was shown clearly than ever to the whole world.It is sad to note that Pesideent advisors have put the him in trouble.
“what should be done is to find a leadership who can understand the plight of the ordinary people in Sri lanka wether he is a tamil or a muslim or a sinhalse.”
Surely not Ranil, neither TNA nor JVP. People have no choice other than MR.
Has any Tamil reprsentative ever talked in favour of Sinhalese?
Always Sinahlese representatives talked infavour of Tamils!
Who cultivate haterism among ethnic groups? Tamil legislators!
This is the truth. Listen to what Sinhalese have to say about Tamil representatives done for Tamils in the North
NoEalamInSL:
MR has somersaulted on his promises in more ways and times than one would be able to count. His disgraceful charade of the APRC joke, the Eminent Persons drama, the COI comical adventure is all there for everyone to see and now he says everything in this long drawn-out affair has to wait until he gets re-elected. He is nothing more than a farce, belonging to the long line of so-called leaders who seek political comfort to cling on to power. Take on the Tamils and you get votes in the South. Is he any different from JW?
MR is a saviour – he has perfectly understood the plight of the Tamils and the only way he has shown his charitable concern is to lock them behind barbed-wire camps and let them languish in pitiable conditions. When they escaped from the LTTE clutches, hoping for a better life and deal, it is as if that they had forgotten history. It can be MR or someone else – for the Tamils to get a fair deal is impossible. What most of us are worried is, would history repeat itself? The fact that the SR regime is more interested in fortifying the north and east with an expanded army and a military-style pseudo rule over these areas, it hardly believes that the Tamils will come around to trust them.
It is lies, lies and lies. They promised a better life if they escape from the torturous LTTE regime but they surely did not expect that MR may talk a few words to hoodwink the Tamils. In a way JW was a better person. There was no doubt what he would say and do, chauvinistic it may seem, but MR and his regime have certainly perfected the art of treachery.
Migara:
#There had been casualties and some of them are civilians which cannot be prevented.# If it is only some civilians, then why to this day the SL govt is preventing independent news and sources to visit the area? What has it got to hide? I will not be surprised when MR has retired and is spending his twilight years, the truth will haunt him and he would face the same predicament as Pinochet faced. If he is dragged out to face crimes against humanity at that point in life, then the thousands butchered would have attained their peace.
Tamils were kept under force by the recalcitrant Tamils. Yes, there are Tamils who had voiced out their atrocities against innocent civilians, including Sinhalese, as Sinhalese are now voicing out for the Tamils. The ordinary Tamils are no different from ordinary Sinhalese, clutching to the basic cultural and language instincts.
#Somehow your dirty politicians to grab power brainwashed you asking for a separate state# Now that the writ of the SL govt has extended to the entire country, surely Tamils must be very happy, languishing behind barbed-wired camps, stripped-off their dignity, suffering in pitiable conditions. Why take my word, even the retired Chief Justice said so, and that is only to supposedly one of the better managed camps.
Concerned Humanitarian,
Tamils lived in peace with Sinhalese in the South before ’83. India trained a group of thugs/criminals against Sinhalese. They blew up 13 Sinhalese soldiers in North. Sinhalese in South retaliated by harassing Tamils in South. There after we had a war for 30 years. That’s the background.
War is over. IDPs must be resettled after demining and some urgent developments. Still promised date of IDP resettlement not yet passed. 180 days from 18th May ends in 18th November 2009. Today 15th August. They already resettled 20,000. Process is slower than expected. Those can happened when it come to a mega project. Lots of short comings are there too. NGOs GOs are reluctant to give hands to govt. Funds are ceased. Aids are ceased. Govt is on the fence of a financial crisis.
Listen what got to say:
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goCg-h2L5cE
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQPxI1faVsE
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu7fyOZCpts
Be patient dear, the devil is not that bad as you think. We will keep an eye on him. He is determined. He loves people. No one wants another Eelam war. The systems, military and political mechanisms must be water tight for Eelamists.
Rights of all people have to be protected. You think of only Tamils. Tamils never thought of Sinhalese. That is the point we are missing.
Trust can be built through recognition and belongingness. If Tamils hurrah for India and Muslims hurrah for Pakistan against Sri Lanka, the trust of Sinhalese towards Tamils and Muslims is tarnished.
Eelam is out of the question. Don’t give up hoped we will have other ways to solve the problem. So, give MR time he deserved. He did enormous work for this shorter period. Accept that without political stands! Criticise where ever necessary. I am not blind to accept him if he become a Taliban.
These are my thoughts.. Just a failed student
thank to Eelam war! I risk my own future for this damn forums, can’t be blind when I see these unfair comments! The worst part is my comments are getting deleted, that’s hurting, man!
NoEalamInSL:
It so happens that it is the Tamils who have been sort of “caged” and are languishing in concentration camps. Yes I agree, race should not figure in any of the humanitarian crisis, and the concern is for the people unless, of course, you want me to refer those IDPs as anyone other than Tamils.
The irony of it all is SL has shut out these NGOs and denied access to these camps. It makes one wonder – the govt promised the people that if they come over to the govt’s side, they would be treated well. Surely locking them up in camps was not part of that promise and regretfully destroys whatever little faith that was existent among the people. Sure, we do not wish to face another cycle of resentment and violence but hope I am wrong, but the seed for such an eventuality is being sown even now.
Now we hear of flooding and the IDPs are faced with untold miseries. Calling for elections but the very people for whom it was meant to could not vote. Why call for an election in the first place when people who mattered could not vote. Such is the politics of MR. In what way is their life any better than they were given a raw deal under Prabhakaran and LTTE? Where is the reconciliation process? Surely not the APRC farce? No, I do not agree to a separate Eelam but what hope can Tamils have over a govt that never fails to give the feeling that all Tamils are terrorists. Sad but true.
“I sit on a man’s back, choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am very sorry for him and wish to ease his lot by all possible means – except by getting off his back.”
Leo Tolstoy
Concerned Humanitarian,
Bit familiar vocabulary, dear. “Caged” origined from Bird brained European cultures to accuse government for combattig terrorism. “SL has shut out these NGOs” who shouted in LTTE Eelam platforms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0PlrsptuXY Government has a legitimate right to “deny NGO access to these camps” to avoid NGOs saving10,000 hardcore LTTE cadres diguised as civilians waiting to make another “humanitarian crisis”, yet not forget there are more than 200 NGOs doing their hard work for those who need!
Stop your Terror propaganda against our people, who battered from LTTE and Tamil Diaspora. Stop your crocodile tears, we know who massacred them.
Listen to a speech in SL parliament(English Text on You Tube) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmfUTv_U2HE Then you will realize how brutal is so called Tamil Politicians.
Dont white wash the culprits and throw mud to Govt who is doing their best, and give them time. If you could wait 30 yrs, I think you can wait another 3 months!
Be patient!
NoEalamInSL:
This is the kind of warped mind that the SL regime has impounded into the minds of people – anyone who talks for the welfare of the displaced are terrorists. What can you expect when you read day in day out govt news propaganda or just shoot and kill those who would want to tell the truth like Lasantha Wickremetunge.
I have no love for the LTTE butchers, not even the slightest but herein lies the insincerity of this govt, no matter how much you wish to pamper them with you accolades. These are people who want to move on with their lives. Yes, the govt is concerned with infiltration issues but how long does it take to screen old and young ones? Perhaps it would be mindful that MR has now changed his tune to saying that the 180 days is only a target. How hilarious.
I can show you as many examples and videos like the ones cited above. Extremists exist on both sides. The army commander is on record saying that this country belongs to the Sinhalese. There are a lot of good and wonderful Sinhalese people and why should I pass an adverse indictment on them when one has a loose mouth. So, stop these charade of videos and what not and concentrate on the instant issue – that the IDPs in the way they are “caged” are a shameful stain on this country.
With barbed-wired and gun trotting soldiers breathing over them, I am unpleasantly surprised that you have an issue with the word “caged”. I would tend to think it is even worse.
Concerned Humanitarian,
My mind set is warped, how is yours? GOSL is not a regime, my dear. A democratic government. I see your resentments. You raise a voice for a group?
Its monsoon rains. Any NGO/GOSL academic would realize the ground situation during monsoon seasons. Its horrific to see, those IDP tents are under floods. Those NGOS who lived there for last 30yrs must be aware of the situation than government. They should have used those bacco/bulldozers gave to LTTE to digg drains to keep this water out of tents. But, are those IDPs are handicapped? LTTE days, they built huge bunkers and diged drains to slow down SL military. Now they cant dig a drain to let floods to decrease. Perhaps they are too much pampered by the government. They must have used LTTE motivational theories, forced labour. For some of people, this is a dream coming true to see camps are under water! Not all sympathizers are sincere. I am sure, those IDPs will agree with me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6mLvnXYPbc
300,000 people caged and fed by the governement. IC doesnt want to help because they dont have impetus access. Who is insincere? Govt? NGO?
NoEalamInSL:
I cannot help laughing. Newsmedia (people and property) blown to pieces, “if you are not with the govt, then you are with the terrorists” – do these sound familiar. There is a limit to a joke – this govt points a gun at anyone who are against it. The all-too-similar “white-vans” syndrome is synonymous with this govt. How many journalists have been brutally murdered during this govt’s tenure. Surely you cannot be serious when you praise this govt as being democratic.
If you insinuate that I am raising voice for the IDPs as a group, yes you are right. The LTTE kept them under their tight rule with guns pointed at them. The GOSL is doing the same. Where or what is the difference between the them? Shouldn’t it be that the standard of the so-called democratic of SL be higher than that of the LTTE? Who did the bombing and uprooted them from their lands and normal lives? Who interned them in these caged camps and treat them like expendables? You still don’t get it, do you? The LTTE and its leadership are dead and gone. These people were forced out from their normal habitat and livelihood by a recalcitrant regime who goes begging to the whole world to feed the very people it uprooted. Or you have forgotten the mantra of this regime – to free the people from the grips of the LTTE? May be we have to rewrite the meaning of the word freedom.
Believe me I am with you and the govt on reigning in on those who could cause mayhem and revive the war. Surely there should be a better way to do this than caging 300,000 people. Where is the sincerity of this regime?
You are writing as if it is the wish of the IDPs and everyone else except you and the GOSL that rain should pour into their internment camps so that someone else could get a kick out of it. Unless you haven’t heard, rain is a natural phenomenon and the monsoon season is well known. It is not that the GOSL does not know – it just does not care. As I mentioned earlier, these IDPs are expendables to the regime of MR. By the way, the question of the NGOs sincerity should never be an issue, they come and go but squarely becomes the responsibility of a regime that uprooted people from their natural habitat by promising them the “moon” so to speak. Why should you even consider the NGOs assistance? It is not like as if natural disasters like earthquake or volcanic eruption or even tsunami that uprooted these people.
Concerned Humanitarian,
My reply to you, read my comment:
http://www.groundviews.org/2009/08/16/update-on-menik-camp-flooding-more-images-and-reports-from-the-ground/#comment-8321
addition to that:
“if you are not with the govt, then you are with the terrorists”, then Bush adminisration also a regime including his EU allies ..
Any evdence for journalist killing by MR govt?
PS:New LTTE leader in Norway. Aug 18 (LNP) The name of a Tamil resident of Tamil Vestlan in Norway is being mentioned as a possible new leader of the LTTE, the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten reported. The Sri Lankan government has said if the news was true it would request Norway to arrest him and hand him over to Sri Lanka. The LTTE has been listed as a terrorist organization in the European Union, Unites States, India and several other countries, but not in Norway.
NoEalamInSL:
When I mentioned you have a warped mind, you seem to be upset. Our discussion is about the forced internment of IDPs. What the govt wants to do with whom it terms as terrorists in other countries is one that does not concern the IDPs. Now that with flooding, the condition in the camps have become even more acute.
MR is a perpetual liar. He claims he cares for ALL his citizens. With as many as nineteen IDPs in one tiny camp, and waiting for five hours to relieve can hardly mean the care he is bullshitting about. I can go into a number of issues where I can pin him down on this but our discussion is on the IDPs, so let us focus on that. Holding 300,000 people in sordid conditions cannot be just wished away, the way you seem to explain. A minister now says the flooding is the fault of the UN. Take UN’s money and whack them from behind,. an art that this regime seem to have perfected.
Bush, by all means, is a discredited person in his own country. I would not be surprised if MR faces the same music in his country. Only time will tell.
The impunity with which journalists were murdered tracks to the doorstep of this regime. Gotabaya Rajapakse’s interviews are a testament to this. Surely you don’t expect a thief to declare himself a thief.