[Note to Dayan – is it possible for you to not talk about yourself? This event was about Rajani, not you.]

Kudos to Dayapala for exposing Dayan’s duplicity and for setting the record straight about Rajani.

Boy, am I glad you are into the Blues! I don’t fear rock n’ roll’s cousin; I only fear religious freaks.

By the way, other than you and the crew, I have never heard of “guy” and “dude” being used on a woman/girl. Perhaps you younger people have started a new trend; well, in that case, I will just have to say: “there is always a first to everything”.

Anyway, what do you think of an egalitarian society in which ‘homeless’ people like myself can live without harassment from racists, sexists, and religious fanatics? I thought this is what most people want, but, I see, now, that some of us want to segregate ourselves through religion, race and language. Also, apart from biological differences, there really are no fundamental differences between men and women. So when I spot sexist undertones in comments and articles on Groundviews – which claims to be a progressive space for alternative journalism – I will not be surprised if the same contributors try to sabotage the move towards egalitarianism in any society.

For your information, I don’t practice selective human rights. Whether it is Lasantha, the poor farmer, an ex-LTTE child soldier, a sweat shop worker or a beggar down the street, I believe we all have the same rights.

As for “white guys” providing facilities for refugees, there are also plenty of “coloured guys/gals” who are agitating powerful governments in the West to accept more refugees from the third world. As for your claim that people on the streets of the US feels safer than people on the streets of Sri-Lanka, I have to agree with you here. Of course, Americans feel safer; many of them carry guns don’t they? Have you ever walked the streets of Chicago? Been to Harlem? Have you heard of gun toting soccer moms from the suburbs? I, however, am with all the Americans who will never touch a gun despite all the self-perpetuating hype about violence. The American society is very complex. On one hand, you have the most regressive zealots, on the other you find the most progressive people (with young Americans into counter culture). If we want such a liberal society in Sri-Lanka, boy, you, and the crew, better change your attitude.

Oh…just to play the Devil’s advocate, in America, three strikes and you’re out of the ol’ ball game!

As for joining you for that cup of tea/coffee, please offer a homeless person a cuppa on my behalf.

“What is the big deal about some white guy talking about the problems of the IDPs? Why are you hung up on his skin colour? ”

Of course it is a big deal because now with India having sold its “soul to the devils” and with wily hyna that Sri Lanka has become, and with guys like you pandering to the only news you seem to believe, and with the IDPs facing guns at them, it may be a slim of a hope, but yes, for all their short-comings, they (I mean the white guys) certainly gave better housing and life as refugees than the shameful internment camps to SL’s own citizens. You dude mind doesn’t even allow for a fair comparison.

“I think you need to wake up and accept the present reality in Sri-Lanka: the LTTE can never rear its ugly head ever again! As for being paranoid, I think you are a master at self-delusion – sitting in your corner reading the Mahavamsa. People who indulge in fanciful tales, written in all types of holy books, are the ones who suffer from a persecution complex; ironically, these are the very people who, then, turn around and accuse others of “paranoia”.”

I agree with you, the LTTE won’t rear its ugly head, and we welcome that. I feel rather safe sitting in my corner, rather than getting blown up to pieces, just the way Lasantha was (deeply sorry Sonali to use this term but these SL guys never learn). Despite our differences, feel sorry for you because who knows that you may not be the next target – such is the uncertainty of the land. One minute you are there, the next minute you are gone. Even if the devil doesn’t get to you first, the white vans may. At least you can breathe a sigh that the chances are it may not come from the LTTE. Despite 9/11, Americans feel a lot safe than anyone walking the streets of SL.

“As for that proverbial bandwagon, it behaves very much like those organizations founded on terror – it swings to the side of opportunity no matter the consequences to the ordinary people. This is what happens when one mistakes cunning for intelligence. Don’t worry; given such a circumstance, you will definitely win the medal.”

I thought I should be telling you that, anyway thank you for reminding me because the state terrorism committed by the SL regime is legendary and that is what exactly is happening with the IDPs. When you mention, “it swings to the side of opportunity no matter the consequences to the ordinary people”, do I have to tell you that most of the IDPs are also ordinary people but that doesn’t enter your head, does it? SL possesses a rare trait, the cunning invasion of truth. Ah, and yes, for guys like you it is a matter of winning medals, may be equated in SL terms as coffins. May be I can give a few pennies to buy a better glue for your labels to stick.

“Yes, one does not need God’s permission to live on this marvellous planet; the existence or non-existence of God is irrelevant to how we behave in the world. The “Almighty” is just a figure of speech. I am sorry you didn’t catch my drift.”

Who cares about gods these days, it has even become a sort of joke, having seen “these gods” taking sides and whether you might have used it in the literal or figurative sense doesn’t sound a bit to me. So, what is there to even talk about a drift?

I didn’t talk about religion because I don’t need one, but you seem so hung up on Buddhist monks and the Mahavamsa. Oh, I didn’t know Buddhist monks were going around “wacking” people into believing in “heaven” and “hell”. Well, well, I’ll be damned, ‘cause forcible conversion should be a crime. I say, throw those Buddhist monks in jail! Since you seem to have a close relationship with Buddhist monks, I suggest, you fight it out with them. They are not going to listen to a ‘homeless’ person like me.”

I like this part. May be we can one day sit over a cup of coffee/tea and share our thoughts on something that appears common to both of us, the non-issue or non-relevance of god. What rattles me is or rather baffles me is, either you really don’t know or pretend not to know about buddhist monks ( I hasten to say not all of them but nevertheless that is stigma they, too, have to carry for the foolish acts of their brothers) doing “street battles”.May be I can do you a favour and send some clips through these columns for you to stop dreaming about cinderella and woke up to the realities happening in and around SL.

“Get your head out of the Mahavamsa, the Buddhist monks and the Sinhala people and live a little. It’s a pity you’ve taken my words on Orwell so literally. As far as I am concerned, you can sing any tune you want to, but, unfortunately, it will never be what we call rock n’ roll!”

How come you seem to be on my pulse so often. Yes, I prefer blues to ‘ROCK-AND-ROLL” SL is ROCKING and ROLLING, if you get MY drift.

Stop evading the basic issue: an egalitarian society is a major threat to your identity.

What is the big deal about some white guy talking about the problems of the IDPs? Why are you hung up on his skin colour? There are Afro-Americans/Africans, Latin Americans and Asians engaged in various types of volunteer work throughout the world; however, speaking the native language (at least a little bit) always helps.

I think you need to wake up and accept the present reality in Sri-Lanka: the LTTE can never rear its ugly head ever again! As for being paranoid, I think you are a master at self-delusion – sitting in your corner reading the Mahavamsa. People who indulge in fanciful tales, written in all types of holy books, are the ones who suffer from a persecution complex; ironically, these are the very people who, then, turn around and accuse others of “paranoia”.

As for that proverbial bandwagon, it behaves very much like those organizations founded on terror – it swings to the side of opportunity no matter the consequences to the ordinary people. This is what happens when one mistakes cunning for intelligence. Don’t worry; given such a circumstance, you will definitely win the medal.

Okay, head specialist, why don’t you clean up your own backyard, if you have one. I would help you out, but I think considering some of the junk that’s been kicking around in your attic, I shudder to think what I might find in your backyard. I wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole!

I am glad you have finally accepted the basic fact that the Sinhala people are the majority of Sri-Lanka. As for a separate homeland for you and your preferred minority, I am afraid you and the crew have been voted off the island! Besides, this kind of argument can only lead to infinite regression.

Yes, one does not need God’s permission to live on this marvellous planet; the existence or non-existence of God is irrelevant to how we behave in the world. The “Almighty” is just a figure of speech. I am sorry you didn’t catch my drift.

I didn’t talk about religion because I don’t need one, but you seem so hung up on Buddhist monks and the Mahavamsa. Oh, I didn’t know Buddhist monks were going around “wacking” people into believing in “heaven” and “hell”. Well, well, I’ll be damned, ‘cause forcible conversion should be a crime. I say, throw those Buddhist monks in jail! Since you seem to have a close relationship with Buddhist monks, I suggest, you fight it out with them. They are not going to listen to a ‘homeless’ person like me.

Get your head out of the Mahavamsa, the Buddhist monks and the Sinhala people and live a little. It’s a pity you’ve taken my words on Orwell so literally. As far as I am concerned, you can sing any tune you want to, but, unfortunately, it will never be what we call rock n’ roll!

“Since you were talking an awful lot about your “love” for Sri-Lankan Tamils, I assumed you at least knew a little bit of Tamil.”

You assumed wrong. If some white guy talks of the problems faced by the IDPs, do you pretty much sit at home and throw guesses and assumptions at your whims and fancy. Wake-up my friend. Living in the dark as most SL do would push the country back by another 50 years.

“Now, now, just hold your horses…don’t jump on the victim bandwagon. You are bound to fall off this proverbial bandwagon known to go off balance at any given time.”

Am I surprised that it comes from a “patriotic”. May be you should learn or revise your probability theory. Balancing the “act” is what SL has failed thus far and looks like it is not going to succeed in the near future either. Does it really occur to you who is on which side of the prison really? Ah, brains, brains, I almost forgot.

“You have to get it into you head that the majority cannot overrule the rights of the minorities.”

I think something is wrong with your head, not mine. When the “Sinhala Only Act” was passed, to quote just one of many changes to the constitution, did the rights of the minorities matter? Of course, where will all these make sense to you? Every establishment or institution that deals with these, including the courts, have become a laughing stock. You would do a world of good in doing something to try at least to do some cleaning your own backyard than preaching the world. It is this majority streak that brought the country to “us” and “you”.

“I repeat – the majority of the people in this little island identify themselves as Sinhala. If MR, you and your crew and the Almighty were to deny this fact, I would say that this trio is very much akin to Hitler and his gang.”

I never denied the Sinhalese as the majority, after all, that is a fact. You don’t need god to confirm that. What I asked you was, and incidentally you didn’t answer, to solve this majority issue, would it be plausible that the Tamils have their homeland where they can be in their own majority. Then the issue of they being in the minority doesn’t arise at all.

Oh yes, I share your view on the misguided trip to heaven (or hell) but isn’t that what the majority in SL believe led by the monks. May be you should preach (instead of me) them to give up such dogmatic views which has ruined the country with monks running the streets whacking people. I haven’t heard of priests from the Christian, Hindu or of any other religion doing street battles and beat people up. I salute your beliefs as I too share similar views but there is no point preaching that to me – do it where it should be done, perhaps you could contribute in a small way to make SL a more tolerant society.

“Please give Orwell a rest. Don’t go around quoting him…it is getting really boring. We can understand this new discovery is a big thing to you and the crew, but, please, remember that subtlety packs a bigger punch.”

He has been laid to “rest” a long time ago. Ah, I see, typical of SL, one must get their permission to quote Orwell. This is a public forum and I am within my right to do so unless, of course, the editor of this forum prevents from doing so. Stop the paranoia and get your act together instead of shooting in the dark.

First of all, Jansee, I am not trying to convince you of anything. Secondly, I don’t need your approval.

Moving along now, what do you mean by “you versus us”? Definitely, not Sinhala versus Tamil, right? When I referred you to the “Ulaga Thamilar”, I did not do this under the assumption that you were Tamil; but, I feel that anyone calling themselves a Sri-Lankan should at least know either Tamil or Sinhala. Since you were talking an awful lot about your “love” for Sri-Lankan Tamils, I assumed you at least knew a little bit of Tamil.

Now, now, just hold your horses…don’t jump on the victim bandwagon. You are bound to fall off this proverbial bandwagon known to go off balance at any given time.

Good God, not even MR and/or the Almighty (not that I believe in God) could convince me that there is no “majority”. I repeat – the majority of the people in this little island identify themselves as Sinhala. If MR, you and your crew and the Almighty were to deny this fact, I would say that this trio is very much akin to Hitler and his gang. This being said, you have to get it into you head that the majority cannot overrule the rights of the minorities.

An egalitarian society is a nightmare to politicians, peace brokers, extremists and religious freaks. Oh, I forgot, such a society also strikes terror in fake activists!

Why are you so obsessed with the Mahavamsa? You seem to know more about the Mahavamsa than the average Sinhala person. I suppose people who love to live in a make-believe world spend their time glued to the Mahavamsa; this is no different from people who read the Good Book (and other holy books) believing this will assure them safe passage to paradiso. All these holy books are filled with fairytales written by misogynists who are intent on fooling the gullible. However, if you so wish to be enmeshed in this fantasy world, you are entitled to do so.

Please give Orwell a rest. Don’t go around quoting him…it is getting really boring. We can understand this new discovery is a big thing to you and the crew, but, please, remember that subtlety packs a bigger punch.

Run along now…

“At least you people have the hackneyed English Media where you come from; however, the poor Tamil Diaspora in North America is stuck with “Ulaga Thamilar” and company for news on international affairs.”

Well, it is still the you versus us. Anyway, any news other than those coming from the SL newsmedia is more worthy for the “dumb” ones that jump on the que to parrot and spin, in a way the regime wants. Of course, I don’t blame the media, failure to observe the official spin would mean more “mysterious” deaths. You must be an ostrich – SL has been coming “tops” in rankings and what I have read on what you have written, I don’t blame you either – writing the truth could mean ………

“Unlike you, I don’t believe in the existence of “majorities” and “minorities” when it comes to the wider consideration of humanity. When one practices equal rights, there is no need to make any distinctions between the “majority” and the “minority”. Having said that, only a fool will deny the reality in Sri-Lanka: the Sinhala speaking people in Sri-Lanka are more in number than those who speak Tamil. Similarly, Buddhism is the choice of religion amongst those who call themselves Sinhala.”

This the double-speak that you guys are famous for and hardly anyone believe in such rhetorics anymore. It is precisely this “majority” view that started the enmity. If, as you say and claim, if the Sinhala majority is the crux of it, then are the Tamils wrong in seeking a separate Tamil nation where this “majority” take would not be an issue anymore? Yes, I share your sentiments that we should see beyond race and religion but we are essentially in the minority. MR now says there is no such thing as majority or minority and hardly anyone with any sense believes him anymore as that was merely coming from MR, the shrewd politician. Was Prabhakaran right when he tells the Tamils that the Sinhala Mahavamsa will never recognise the Tamils as equals? May be his methods and means of achieving what the Tamils wanted could be wrong but essentially you too agree that this majority is and will be there.

“By the way, when I spoke of “an average politically aware Sri-Lankan”, I didn’t mean politicians. Basic comprehension is a must even to a grade eight dropout.”

May be George Orwell had somewhat an eerie futuristic view of SL when he wrote Animal Farm. Politics and politicians in SL? Please throw some other surprises – the state of mind of an average SL is exactly what you mentioned – a grade eight dropout -never able to rise above petty politics – what more with such people around MR.

A good try but not just enough. Try harder to convince me to believe you.

A real sense of actuality in Rajani Thiranagama commemoration:Response to Dayan Jayatilleke

By Dayapala Thiranagama

Dayan Jayatilleke’s article titled “Rajani’s Commemoration: An Absence of Actuality” published on 27th September in Ground Views deserves some clarification and response in order to put the record straight. I believe this would benefit readers and will provide justice to Rajani’s life and her heroism in taking on the neo-fascistic LTTE so boldly in “a meaningful defiance”. In so doing Rajani and her colleagues in the UTHR never hesitated.

I welcome Dayan’s positive comments that it was a good evening. However, his article omitted many of the factors that made it such a positive event. I consider it a very good evening in terms of attendance, young and old, belonging to different ethnic groups, Sinhalese, Tamils, and Muslims (some Europeans) and multi religious ordinary people who came from the Sinhalese South, North and East and Upcountry from all social classes to remember Rajani and reaffirm her ideals. There were no VIPs or politicians. In terms of numbers it went beyond the organizers’ expectations and some had to be turned away due to the lack of seats. This illustrates the continuing meaning that her legacy holds in the fight for the democratic rights and the right to dissent.

Dayan’s main complaint was that the memorial event did not name the Tigers as Rajani’s killers. Those who did not attend the event may justifiably feel that this diminished the memorial. Most attendants at the meeting came knowing that the Tamil Tigers were responsible for her killing, particularly from the widespread press coverage including articles by myself in the Island on 16 September and by UTHR (J) prior to the event. Dayan seems to have wanted it to be stated as if it were a court of law with a charge sheet to be presented against the Tigers. Many of the items at the event including the songs, poetry and speeches laid responsibility for the killing at the LTTE’s door. If one could not understand that, one did not understand language, context, poetry and more damningly, politics.

The prior campaigning and the commemoration event as well as the work shop that was held subsequently made it very clear that the Tamil Tiger militancy was responsible for many deaths including Rajani’s. Dayan’s problem lies in the fact that he isolated the event and jumped into his conclusion without focusing on the preparation prior to the event and its aftermath. If there was no Tiger bashing at the event it was not because the organizers were unaware of the need to fight the neo-fascism of the Tigers but rather the political urgency at the current moment and the strategy that would be most suitable and effective in fighting the twin problem: achieving democratic rights and challenging Sinhalese triumphalism. The democratic rights in all three communities namely Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslims are being eroded under the cover of patriotism and it is being used to frustrate and postpone the devolution of power to the Tamil community.

Even among the most anti-LTTE segments of the Tamils in the country there is fear and tension as to what would be their future in relation to their democratic rights. If you want to talk about the “the titanic struggles for decades against the Tigers” you also need to talk about the historical injustices meted out against the Tamil Community with equal passion and conviction. It is not a one way street and not restricted to the Tamil community. The right to dissent is taken away with speed in the South and the methods applied here at times are reminiscent of what the Tamil Tigers inflicted on their political adversaries in their suppression of the right to dissent in the areas of their control. The IDPs are still languishing in their camps. In order to fight fascism it is required to resolve the genuine grievances of the Tamils. There is a historic opportunity in the country as never before to resolve the issue that has cost so many lives and our social and economic development for generations. It is entirely fitting that an event commemorating someone with Rajani’s concern for the lived reality of ordinary people’s lives would focus on these issues.

Rajani’s family and the UTHR (J) never had any lingering doubts about the LTTE as Rajani’s killers. We had credible evidence. But at the time there was no law and order in the country and it was reported as one of the war casualties. At the time Dayan had joined the UNP government and was working for President Premadasa.I that recall just before I left for London December 1989, Dayan was of the view that Rajani was killed by the EPRLF and that he had had access to the information not available to us. Dayan wanted me to make a statement regarding this information. At the time the Premadasa government had an understanding with the Tamil Tigers against the IPKF and their proxy the EPRLF. That was the crux of the matter. So much for (in Dayan’s words) “the titanic struggle for decades against the fascism of the Tigers” and the “… massive historical truths” which Rajani’s commemoration meeting failed to highlight in its ‘actuality’. What I have to say, quoting Dayan’s own words again, is that “Rajani never countenanced lies in politics and public life”.

Dayan reminds us that the LTTE was not overthrown by the Tamil resistance. I support the historic victory against the LTTE and their neo-fascistic project. He says the Tigers were overthrown not by “non violent dissent” or by “Tamil dissenters”, thus belittling the work that Rajani and her colleagues in UTHR (J) have done in reporting human rights abuses by all the parties involved in this brutal conflict and the decisive role this brave work and reportage has played. I know at times in the recent past it would have proven uncomfortable reading for him.

Dayan says that Rajani believed that Mahathaya would have saved her life and Rajani’s blindness to this historical truth killed her. Rajani never believed that Mahathaya would save her or indeed that he would be able to do so. More than any of us Rajani knew how the LTTE functioned and she had no illusions whatsoever. She knew that she would be targeted, but her commitment and dedication was such that she believed that it was worth giving her life for when the moment came. Rajani wrote in a letter sent to a friend in these words ‘I will not be killed by an outsider but someone who was born out of a womb of this society of a woman with whom my history is shared’. I would say that Rajani had Che’s spirit in relation to her choice between life and death, and was willing to give her life, when the moment came, for her passionate belief in the preservation of human dignity. Such people are rare in politics and the political classes today. That is also why I introduced her as a new revolutionary. In writing a postscript to The Broken Palmyra (page 408) she stated that “Objectivity was not solely an academic exercise for us. Objectivity, pursuit of the truth and the propagation of critical and honest positions, was crucial for the community. But they could also cost many of us our lives.”

Rajani made a choice, one that I respected in spite of the huge personal loss for our family and the children. Rajani’s life and work continues to instill hope and determination in the minds of people who will have nothing to lose except their democratic rights, including the right to dissent in this country. Rajani’s death and her murderers were not the summation of her life. It was her vision for her community, the principles she fought for and the life she lived that we commemorated last week.

Dayapala Thiranagama