Unity, Survival, Destination

by Ram Mohan, April 2, 2011

Unity, Survival and Destination are three key concepts in any struggle and more certainly in Eelam National Liberation.

Unity is necessary but not sufficient or even counterproductive without a clearly defined objective to achieve. The objective should relate to both survival and destination as well as to the linkage between the two.

The Destination for all Eelam Tamils is the Recognition of the Right of Self Determination although there could be differences in how to exercise that Right.

Survival and Destination are interdependent as one cannot exist without the other. Normalcy in desirable terms is not possible without the recognition of the Right of Self Determination. Right of Self determination cannot be exercised without some degree of Normalcy which is essential for Survival.

Considering the ground reality in Homeland and the ground reality of the Diaspora environment, it is not surprising that the former concentrates in Survival while the latter concentrates in the Destination. If the underlying unity between Survival and Destination is understood, then it is easy to build up the wider Unity based on the broader perspective. Then it will be easy to understand the complementary nature of the Homeland Tamils and the Diaspora Tamils.

Once the complementary nature of the Homeland Tamils and the Diaspora Tamils is understood, the disruptive forces of GOSL and its foreign partners as well as their agents will not be able to break the links between the Diaspora and the Homeland Tamils.

Due to the Terrorising Nature of the occupation forces and the paramilitaries and the hostile attitude of the GOSL as well as the indifferent to hostile attitude of the foreign powers who conducted the war, the Homeland Tamils are forced to concentrate in survival struggle though experience teaches them that even the survival struggle cannot survive without an environment pushing for the Destination which can only be provided by the Diaspora Tamils. This does not confer any leadership role to the Diaspora nor the right to form any government which at best can be described as an illusion.

The Diaspora Tamils and the Homeland Tamils in their collective capacities as well as in their individual capacities should concentrate in performing tasks which they can do best for moving towards the Destination and this structural unity is the highest form of unity. More than the Tamils, it seems that the GOSL and its foreign partner Establishments have understood the importance of this structural unity if one looks at the scale and intensity of their attacks on the Diaspora probably in the belief that they have finished the Homeland Tamils. One simple formula for us is to do the opposite of what the enemy wants to.

The world of the Enemy has moved from Globalised Capital to Globalised Establishments and naturally the World Establishments will support GOSL, though we can expect empathy from the youngest Establishments. We can also expect to make use of contradictions among the Establishments if we can develop strong Solidarity and alliances with other oppressed Nations without State and oppressed peoples in general.

In order to make use of contradictions among Establishments we should not allow ourselves to be attached to any Establishment or group of Establishments. Such attachment will end up in our being taken for granted by those whom we support and as on the opposite side by others. We should maintain relationships with everyone and enjoy support from wherever it comes. The case of East Timor is a good example. They had a foot in China before the Liberation and that forced the other powers to support East Timor resulting in East Timor’s independence. Just few days ago, when it was known that East Timor is developing Naval relationship with China, The SBS (TV) correspondent asked the President of East Timor why such a relationship was not developed with Australia. The reply was prompt: For years we had been negotiating and Australia took us for granted and did nothing. Now, after China is helping us unconditionally, Australia is trying to make offers which will be considered accordingly.

The Diaspora should concentrate on exposing how the War on Eelam Tamils was conducted without witness by the International Alliance and how the International Alliance is concentrating on sharing the spoils of war WITHOUR CARING for the survival of the defeated and conquered people. This is the most effective way of helping the Homeland Tamils to survive as the Diaspora does not have the resources to do this and even any limited help will be robbed by GOSL. At the same time the Diaspora should relentlessly campaign for the Recognition of the Right of Self Determination of Eelam Tamils as that is the guarantee of desirable Normalcy.

The Homeland Tamils and their leadership should work hard for survival without worrying about half way political solutions like the dead 13th amendment. Their Survival is very crucial for the exercise of the Right of Self Determination. Survival struggle will naturally call for the withdrawal of the Occupation Forces. In addition all concerned should encourage the development of grass root organizations in the Homeland as such organizations can develop without being noticed by the occupation forces or the allied paramilitaries.

While the Diaspora Campaign will always be peaceful as this will be more of convincing our Natural Allies, whether the struggles in the Homeland will be peaceful or not will depend on how the Enemy is continuing his occupation and oppression. The oppressed peoples never resort to violence unless the oppression takes a violent form of Coercion. Coercion needs not to be physical.  The 6th Amendment is the biggest Coercion .Those who want to avoid another armed struggle including Tamil Leaders should call for the Repeal of the 6th Amendment.

In a world where the old Imperialism transformed into Globalised Capital and again transformed into Globalised Establishments, our struggle cannot be carried in Isolation. This is where Solidarity and Alliance with our Natural Allies become important. Further we should ANTICIPATE Global Developments and Geopolitics. The struggles going on in our region is more important and we should tune ourselves to these struggles particularly in India and this is where unity with Tamils of Tamilnadu counts.

We should not work to any arbitrary Time Table as the anticipated developments have no Time frame but only Cause and effect frame. History may move faster than we anticipate. Only guiding principle will be fight against oppression anywhere helps the oppressed everywhere as the Enemy is globalised and united as we have seen in the Iraq wars, War in Afghanistan, Eelam War and now even in Libya.