Random musings on Sri Lanka today
The swift annihilation of the Tamil Tigers was a surprise to me. A war that was 30 years long, finished so quickly with an undignified death for the leader of the LTTE. Yet, so many unanswered questions.
The man on the street, people like myself, we’ll never know the whole truth. Some of us don’t care, terrorism, the LTTE were wiped out. That’s all that matters. We celebrated the great victory. In my corner of the stix in England, I celebrated the new sovereignty of my motherland, my country, my Paradise Island. My tears of joy like acid on their faces for the Tamil Diaspora.
It’s easy for me, for I don’t live there anymore. I am but the tourist who returns thrice a year. But I celebrate my roots, I celebrate that I am Sinhala Buddhist. I see beyond my birthright, but my eyes and ears remain closed.
The conflict within is clear. A world in recession, a world in decay where the poorer you are in terms of roots, connections and belonging, the more you suffer. The same in the Paradise Isle. Your ethnicity does not matter; it’s whom you know, where you’re from.
In the motherland, the ties to Russia, China and India are strengthened. A weird blast from the past. Bandaranayake socialism now called Mahinda Chintanaya. The President’s pro-labour and socialist history coming to light. One difference – there are no bread queues or people dying from food poisoning. People are dying in other ways, but that people die anyway is my self-justification.
Attention grabbing media headlines, pro and anti-government media. Who do I believe? I am never impartial for I still celebrate the sovereignty of the motherland. Does this make me a racist or a traitor?
Whenever I visit Sri Lanka, there is always new construction. Always something new happening. New places, new businesses and new roads. Roads that earmark economic prosperity.
A reporter killed, media silenced. Dissent severely disapproved. We are no longer a smiling, easygoing bunch of people. Are we now struggling to survive?
My motherland is governed by a dictatorship, for the greater good as some say. A justification for some, horribly wrong to some others.
I remain as always, confused. But unlike God Skanda who travels the world slaying demons, I travel to Sri Lanka at every opportunity for it’s the only place I truly belong.
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We all see what we want to see through our own prisms…. Some see only the good and some see only the bad… nowhere is perfect.. as long as more good is being done than bad then we are on the correct path…. today a mother in the South and a mother in the North can without fear send their kids to school.. no bombs, no suicide bombers,…. a lot more to be done, trust built, equal opportunities given… are we on the correct path?? The answer is still in the air…!!!
Countries like the USA and Australia do not bear the burden of history. South Asia does, and that holds us back from living in the future as we should. DD has aired the emotions he experiences when he returns home..every human being has that special feeling when he returns to his land of birth because that was where his life began, so he is no different to any other. It is an anthropological fact that most people want to bury their bones in the land of their birth.
But that is a basic feeling from which we have to move on. Its a global world we are living in, and that’s where the future lies. Stephen Hawkings and his scientists are also reading the past to plan the future..let us follow them. Let us keep an interest in our past if it gives us that special feeling, but not get bogged down in it.
Tamil children in the northeast have not many schools to attend.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=31946
Tamil women live in fear.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=32216
The writer is correct – the dictatership is terrifying especially to those in the newly “liberated” areas.
They have noone to complain to.
Thanks dd. Most sri lankans (here and abroad, tamil and Sinhala) would be able to relate to the feelings expressed here. It is sad indeed that many of us are still unable to express our feelings abiut the situation in the country, as we have very mixed feelings. Feelings of frustration due to the lack of transperancy about past and about future plans on the nation, Feelings of a sence of relief due to the new mobility experienced in travell across the country due to the end of war.
thanks once again.
nice article!
jz after finishing LTTE, growth rate of the SL for this year 7.1% .
this figure was achieved without any macro economic reforms!
if govt really involve in economic reforms, then economic growth rate would be more than 10%
development would alone address most of the grievances in north n east!
hope democracy would follow development.
Justita why are you posting links here from the official LTTE mouthpiece Tamilnet..?
Dhammika, there was a way to find out what happened in the war! Join it! If you cared so much what happens in war why didn’t you join the army and then stand resolute and scream to your commander, SIR PUT ME AT THE FRONT!
For a start why don’t you come to Sri Lanka, visit a disabled soldier’s hospital and ask them? I am sure they can give you graphic accounts of what happened. If you know where to look, you can find the information you want. So don’t write these tear pieces from abroad.
Not everything you want to know is going to come through your google news feed. In fact half of it is mis information.
Dictatorship? I am damn sure I voted for this dictators we’re talking about. What a nice dictator. Gave me the opportunity to put him there. haha
So I guess had Ranil or SF won, that would have been a dictatorship for me, because I didn’t get what I wanted. oh dear…
By the way Dhammica, you do realise in ur Engalnd, you actually pay a small penny to sustain a monarch who just sits there and warms a chair whether you like it or not. That penny be better spent on a homeless person tbh. Sort of a dilemma isn;t it? If you didn’t give her money, then she’d be homeless.. lol
In the motherland, the ties to Russia, China and India are strengthened.
Umm, they’re our closest neighbouring super powers. Who could squash us like an ant, if they wish in a split second. If we can’t strengthen ties with them, how are we going to survive? Just piss off all of them who are right next to us? By doing that would US put us under their missile defence shield? I think not!
Allying with the West without a good reason is not the best foreign policy to adopt – def in our region. Especially the way they tend to treat Sri Lanka using aid as a bullying tactic. It’s quite dis respectful. I mean look at NATO allies, all those countries got dragged into a war that they had no intention or belief in fighting for just because US intelligence services failed to prevent an attack on their country. Deep down they all want to pull out of Iraq & Afghanistan but hang in there because, US is their security ticket. We all know how the initial “coalition of the willing” looked like.. lol
Dear Observer,
The Queen of England, reigns but does not rule.The Queen is the font of all social justice.The Monarchy is supreme and most powerful, because it denies power to those who would misuse power.The Queen declares war and peace, appoints all ministers and judges. There will never be a dictater in UK. UK has eliminated poverty, from the days when Lord Beveridge formulated the National Assistance Act (1948), later modified and enlarged, with the aim -”There shall be no destitution in England”. But everyone – lord & commoner – contributes a small sum each week to the state, which builds up into Trillions of Pounds from which all social services flow. Justice, Law & Order are strictly enforced. Even Members of Parliament who claim excess expenses have to pay back.All vying for elective office, have to declare their assets & liabilities publicly. Media are unrestricted – even the royalty is criticised freely. Britons, on special occasions, toast the Queen. They do not toast any politician. None can prosper with bootlicking.
Dear Tim, Tamilnet reports to the world on Tamil Affairs. It is noone’s mouthpiece.
Congratulations on your new discovery on Tamilnet! It explains more now what you mean by “boot lickers” in your comment!
hang on justista, did you just claim UK is a socialite state? it sure sounds like that with your description. if you think there is no poverty in UK, you’re a fool. you seem to love the queen, actually sound like a wannabe fluff lord who sits pompous with prejudice at the commoners. anyway i hope for other more progressive folk’s sake uk, australia and new zealand all become republics and get rid of the unnecessary exuberance and any ties to do with that which is a waste of tax payer money.
correction: socialist! not socialite lol
Observer I will keep this short. The bravery you speak of can be distinguished easily. Cowards comment under a pseudonym. Thank you for reading this post and visiting my blog.
Dear justitia,
“Tamilnet reports to the world on Tamil Affairs. It is noone’s mouthpiece.”
DBS Jeyaraj claims that Tamilnet’s editors Jeyachandran and Sreetharan are the brains behind Nediyavan the new LTTE “Thalaivar.”
justita
You are unable to answer Hon.Observer’s comment!
Maybe you don’t have an answer!
oh that’s right DD.. everyone who votes in an election is also a coward right? because they cast an anonymous ballot? geez..
anonymity is a fundamental right online. Not just online, off line too. It gives you the option to voice your opinion without being persecuted. you’re essentially calling 80% of commenters here cowards. Also choosing to associate your self with an identity is also your right. So no dramas. You can refuse to answer what I raised, I’m not imposing that. but don’t have to be so sleazy about it.
Btw, what blog do you speak of? There was no link to a blog here. Just confused.
Observer
The worst form of cowardice is the coward who makes excuses for their cowardice.
a·non·y·mous adj
1. whose name is not known or not given
2. with the performer’s, maker’s, or creator’s identity withheld
3. lacking individuality or distinctiveness
4. obscuring somebody’s identity, or allowing somebody to go unnoticed
Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
Shame
dhammika, well i don’t care what ever you want to call me, point of the matter is it’s just a convenient way to avoid what ever i said earlier.
anyway, i have long lost the encarta 96 encyclopedia CD i had so i’ll give u a page from my reference book now as to what anonymous is – the interent!
http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Anonymous (be cautioned – NSFW)
Observer
Those soldiers died for our freedom.
We will not let cretins nor thugs take it away from us.
“Dhammika, there was a way to find out what happened in the war! Join it! If you cared so much what happens in war why didn’t you join the army and then stand resolute and scream to your commander, SIR PUT ME AT THE FRONT!
For a start why don’t you come to Sri Lanka, visit a disabled soldier’s hospital and ask them? I am sure they can give you graphic accounts of what happened. If you know where to look, you can find the information you want. So don’t write these tear pieces from abroad.”
Observer when someone challenges me personally but hiding behind anonymity THIS makes them nothing but a coward. So you my friend remain shamed and a coward. Heh heh…
FYI
I visit Sri Lanka at least thrice a year. I still have work and a home there.
The commander of the ‘Rana Viru Sevena’ a former public schools Tarbat Cup Champion boxer, and a BRAVE Royalist who lost both his legs in Elephant Pass is one of my closest friends. I am visiting SL soon so you are welcome to join us in the Army mess for a chat and a drink. You might learn something.
My sibling worked in the Army Headquarters hospital as a Doctor.
I worked for the SLGov both at TAFREN, TAFOR and the NCED.
I have been to the war zone when the war was on many a time.
My driver in Sri Lanka is an ex-Air Force bomb disposal squad officer. He remains in my employment despite the fact that my primary residence now is England. You may want to meet him too as his story about how they had to clean up the Elephant Pass afterwards makes chilling reading.
I may have not taken up a gun for my country, rest assured I do know how to take apart, clean and assemble a machine gun.
Most of all I have shed blood, sweat and tears for my country. I say what I want to say, when I want to say because I am a PROUD SRI LANKAN. I am a Sinhala, Buddhist, Govigama Sri Lankan, and proud.
Not a piss-ant coward like you.
Shame on you my friend. COWARD.
As you also seem to know a lot about the internet, you must know it is not anonymous as much as we think. If anyone wanted badly enough they can find who you are. Luckily for you no one wants to know a COWARD like you.
Go back and crawl in that hole you came from now, shoo, shoo…
My blogs FYI
http://viceunversa.blogspot.com/
http://paradisians.blogspot.com/
Good gosh Dhammika, did I offend you that much? Completely unnecessary to pull that “oh yeah I have army buddies u mf” on me! haha well I find this rather amusing! Pompous bragging of other’s bravery. I admire every single person you just mentioned! My heart goes out to the soldier who lost both legs especially. I personally understand how much I owe these people.
Anyway you claim to have army buddies yet you pretend to know very little of what happened in war. Maybe you should talk with them more often. You would get a very good insight into most aspects of this war. That is all I suggested.
Oh btw, was the invitation to the army mess and the fact that you can disassemble and reassemble a machine gun supposed to give me feelings of intimidation? Guess what, you don’t really belong at the army mess if you haven’t served. And there was a challenging period in my life I had to carry a weapon/s for my personal protection, and believe me it wasn’t fun. I understand the elevation of your blood, brain pressure from the moment you put on a kevlar vest.
I personally won’t brag about my connections to the forces or the administration to prove a point. Neither am I claiming I have any connections… It would/could be irresponsible of me to disclose such information. You may want to realise that for some people anonymity and secrecy is part and parcel of their work and life. So have some respect. Before you call anyone a coward, you better realise there are a lot of heroes out there who live obscure lives defending the weak. I am not claiming I am one of them…because I am not! For good reasons they remain obscure.
Millenium city debacle was a fine example of the horrific consequences of when world class idiots like Ranil Wickremesinghe with attitude like yours to anonymity expose fine brave men. That is why I still wish to see that guy hung. I know hate only works against your self but I just can’t let that go.
Yes of course you can be traced on the Internet. I actually connect through an international VPN to the Internet for various reasons and even then I know yes it can be traced. I am not doing anything criminal to want to be completely anonymous. Neither are other commenters here. They use pseudonyms for various reasons. If the CID wants to come knocking on my door I have no qualms about that…
Point is NO you do not get extra credits for posting under your birth name if you still say silly things! I couldn’t care less if you’re Dhammica or Queen Elizabeth! I don’t [Edited out] care if you’re buddhist and govi gama.
Anyway I am gonna part from what is about to become a rather ugly personal exchange between us and squash this flame by passing a line that has been stuck in my head through the times to what sounds like a pompous arrogant Royalist (Yes lol you went there and mentioned the school.. how typical) to think about as I say good bye to your arrogance…
Good men die young and the best they can ask for is an unmarked grave
May those anonymous cowards (sic) rest in peace!
Oh and thanks for the blog link, since I am a COWARD I am afraid to visit your blog because you might log my IP address and get the “cyber pohhleeze” to “backtrace” me. The “consequence may never be the same” after that. haha don’t be like this guy…
http://www.break.com/usercontent/2010/7/17/you-dun-goofed-up-1885549
just something to cool you down
something to bring the testosterone levels down. good bye, and i’m retreating to my hole now ok? kthx!
Those soldiers died for our freedom.
Actually, they died for the freedom of the Rajapakse dynasty. That is the sad but unfortunate truth of the matter. Look at all the photo-ops of Namal R – that is the future of SL. That chap will be President one day, and the only reason will be because the average voter in the South had the IQ of a sheep. In any event, there is nothing *great* or spectacular about a military. A soldier blindly follows the orders of his superiors – he realizes his objective purely through the dictum of force. Whereas, the progress of civilization – the advancement of society – is actually the converse of the latter, whereby man has improved his lot through ingenious invention that required brainpower, not firepower. Don’t you find it rather unfortunate that the so-called home of “Theravada Buddhism” – supposedly the “truest” form of Buddhism – could not settle a simple dispute over land in a rational, non-violent way, but instead had to resort to the law of the jungle, applying sheer brute force to force the enemies hand? Whereas the architecture and all are a testament to the achievements of Sinhala-Buddhism, I would say that the war symbolizes the lowest ebb reached by Sinhalese-Buddhism.
*is actually the opposite of the latter, not converse
Don’t you find it rather unfortunate that the so-called home of “Theravada Buddhism” – supposedly the “truest” form of Buddhism – could not settle a simple dispute over land in a rational, non-violent way, but instead had to resort to the law of the jungle, applying sheer brute force to force the enemies hand?
Heshan, you have to understand the nature of the enemy. You talk as if the LTTE was a friendly, diplomatic compromising bunch. It was their way or the high way. Bottom line is they (top hierarchy) wanted eelam and nothing less. We know the tiger never changes its stripes yet, successive governments tried peace talks for the LTTE to just walk away like a spoilt child. Only to use that time to become stronger and hit back with more punch. Sorry buddy, this was the only way left to end it. Hard core war. It came to a point that it was just plain ridiculous.
And why do you keep mixing Buddhism with the state’s actions? Yes majority of population subscribe to Buddhism but that doesn’t mean we’re going to govern the country or draw national security policy based on Buddhism or any other religion for that matter! Do Christian nations govern or mediate conflicts by the Bible? Absolutely not.
Therawada Buddhism does remain in Sri Lanka – inside Temples in puskola books. This is the literature side of Buddhism we’re talking about now. My guess is only the high ranking Panditha Theras who probably understands all the literature and true meaning. It’s really academic. That aside, unfortunately we do get few low ranking Buddhist monks who are not good monks or just don’t understand what they signed up for and agitate the political arena. You use this minority to bash the religion. Most know it’s not like that.
Last I checked Buddhism is not even a religion, just a way of life.
Dear Observer, nothing changes. You are a coward and will always be a coward. Everyone knows that, you the most. Coward.
Actually, they died for the freedom of the Rajapakse dynasty. That is the sad but unfortunate truth of the matter. Look at all the photo-ops of Namal R – that is the future of SL.
Funny you should mention this possible script heshan. You know I once read a very similar script, except it was played out for real. It goes a little something like this.
There was once a Bush Senior who waged a war in the name of freedom in the Gulf. Lot of young, innocent Americans died for their brethren’s freedom! Bush family and their higher society buddies who ran oil companies, arms manufacturing companies made wind falls profits in lucrative oil/weapons contracts. Then the democrats came to the office and business was slow. Ah but lucky for them, they had their son groomed and ready for action. Then this son of his became the president and started another 2 wars! By golly if the trend keeps up we can only assume Bush’s kids will start 4 wars. Lucky he doesn’t have boys. haha – no offense to ladies, it’s just from what I have read I don’t think the Bush daughters have great political ambitions.
What I was saying was that political dynasties are a common scenario in world politics. Ghandis, Kennedies, Clintons, Rajapaksas may join this club too. Who knows. You may think they already are a dynasty.
If the people are happy with their dad’s performance and want to give his genetics a chance, why not? If he does a poor job the people will boot him out no? Then again Bush got 2 terms.. lol I’m not sure democracy can pick out idiots and boot them out of office…
Dear Observer, suddenly kind of realised who you were. My sincere apologies.
BTW, The only reason I wanted you to visit my blogs was not to get your IP. Just for you to read how much I love Sri Lanka, the sovereignty of our country and our current leader Mahinda Rajapakse. Please do log in on a different IP or something but have a read. I believe we both support the same cause, just in vastly different ways!
http://viceunversa.blogspot.com/2010/03/wonderfully-sri-lankan.html
http://viceunversa.blogspot.com/2010/03/young-prince-we-bow-before-your.html
http://viceunversa.blogspot.com/2010/01/true-lion-of-sri-lanka-lion-king.html
http://paradisians.blogspot.com/2010/05/waking-to-paradise.html
Prof Heshan,
“Don’t you find it rather unfortunate that the so-called home of “Theravada Buddhism” – supposedly the “truest” form of Buddhism – could not settle a simple dispute over land in a rational, non-violent way”
*Using your own logic,* we could not settle this dispute nonviolently because we were dealing with non-Buddhists like yourself who weren’t very rational and nonviolent. Actually Christian fundamentalism had produced the most bloodshed out of all world religions. Are you proud of that?
Observer:
Heshan, you have to understand the nature of the enemy. You talk as if the LTTE was a friendly, diplomatic compromising bunch. It was their way or the high way. Bottom line is they (top hierarchy) wanted eelam and nothing less. We know the tiger never changes its stripes yet, successive governments tried peace talks for the LTTE to just walk away like a spoilt child.
That’s an interesting analysis. But it ignores one important point: Sinhala-Buddhist fundamentalism/chauvinism precedes Tamil nationalism by at least 60 years. There were race riots in Kandy in 1915… even before this, we have the wonderful poetry of patriots like Dharmapala and his ilk. What is interesting is that the same anti-Western, anti-Christian, anti-Tamil bias is still there, 95 years later. Obviously, then, it was not the Tamils but the Sinhalese who set the stage for the war. The LTTE was the inevitable by-product of this nationalism. The word “inevitable” is rather important. Before the Tamils took up arms, they resorted to parliamentary democracy to try and reach their goals – but this never materialized due to the anti-Tamil sentiment in the South. The funny thing is that even without armed struggle, it is unlikely the Ceylon Tamils will still realize their objectives. So I could throw your argument right back at you, and say that the Tamils cannot expect a fair and just political solution, in which case armed struggle is fully justified. A Tiger never changes his stripes – true, but neither does the Southern nationalist, it seems.
Observer:
Funny you should mention this possible script heshan. You know I once read a very similar script, except it was played out for real. It goes a little something like this.
Your “script” is quite familiar – the usual one that says, if it happens in S. Lanka, it has happened everywhere else, so what’s the big deal about S. Lanka! But actually, I can find lots of *holes* with your script. See the following:
Bush’s assets listed at $8.8M, Cheney’s top $19M
WASHINGTON (AP) — At the end of his latest financial disclosure form, following a dozen pages of itemized assets totaling at least $8.8 million, President Bush listed presidential gifts he just had to keep: a $5,728 boat, complete with dock, a cowboy hat and Rolling Stones concert tickets.
In all, Bush kept $14,254 in gifts, according to financial disclosure forms released by the White House on Thursday.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-05-16-financial-disclosures_x.htm
See, the Americans know where every dollar in Bush’s bank account came from, while he was President. What about Mahinda Rajapakse? Man, I don’t even know where to start…. let’s just say, it will have to snow in S. Lanka before he publicly declares his assets.
Bush got two terms in office, and then someone entirely new came into the picture. That’s how democracy – not to prevent people like Bush from occupying high positions of power, but to allow pathways for change. Again, in S. Lanka, what do we see? It will be a dark day before a Tamil ever becomes President. Enough said.
Wijyapala:
*Using your own logic,*
My logic is concerned exclusively with S. Lanka; therefore the rest of your argument fails miserably.
Heshan, you are correct in your assessment to a degree. Most Sri Lankans including my self are immensely opposed to dividing the nation. Not for anything but it will create an eternity of problems for both ethnicities and a long running border war will erupt maybe even worse than Gaza/Israel – India & Pakistan or other volatile border regions in the world. Also it will do great injustice for those other minorities that live among us. What about them? Do they get an eelam too or they have to live with Sinhalese on the Sinhalese side? Not that I’m against it if anything I’d be happy to coexist with them but what if they chose to live in the North? Long as this secessionism is part of any resolution to ethnic disharmony, then the 2 communities shall forever be polarised. LTTE kept insisting for what we could not agree to. Both parties were willing to sacrifice immensely and go all in for what they so strongly believe. Eventually one side had to win militarily. LTTE raised the stakes on behalf of the Tamil community and went all in and lost the wager. You have to live with that. If the Tiger decides to work within one Sri Lanka framework then our ears are all open. Otherwise we still strongly believe in what we think is just and we’re willing to do it all over again.
As for the assets Heshan, that is what they declare or report. You don’t know what they’re hiding overseas secret accounts. SL politicians chose to publish their assets too and I have seen one page ads in papers with their figures too during election campaigns but most people are skeptical. These guys aren’t stupid, when these guys leave office, the people they helped while in office will fill their coffers. Or they already have filled accounts with keys ready when they leave office. By then they don’t have to publicly list them. How naive are you? c’mon buddy, crooks are not that silly.
Not to pick on a good party as I my self enjoy a smashing party sometimes but Clinton’s daughter’s wedding party. Quite extravagant and lavish for a president to afford don’t you think? Several millions at least by conservative estimates. Say Clinton has similar wealth to Bush and say he got 8 mil in his bank (but we all know that is really laughable right?). Say Clinton spent 2 mil on Chelsea’s party. 25% of his retirement fund on one daughter’s party? So by the time he throws the party for the 2nd daughter his retirement fund is half gone. Do you realise that assets listed dont make any sense and it’s really laughable?
http://www.nationalledger.com/ledgerpop/article_272633444.shtml?ref=ixml
Let’s just hope the groom’s side picked up the tab