Tamils of Sri Lanka: The quest for human dignity

Introduction

The Sri Lankan conflict has reached a crucial stage. The government believes that only a military victory can enable it to bring about a political solution and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have announced their position for a peaceful settlement:

“Our liberation organisation is prepared to participate in negotiations to find a political solution to the ethnic conflict through peaceful means. We are not opposed to peaceful process of resolving conflicts. Nor are we reluctant to engage in peaceful dialogue. We are seeking a negotiated settlement that would be fair, just, and equitable and that would satisfy the political aspirations of the Tamil people. I explained this position very clearly when I met the Norwegian peace delegates in Vanni recently. We are not imposing any pre-conditions for peace talks. Yet we insist on the creation of a cordial atmosphere and conditions of normalcy conducive for peace negotiations. It is practically difficult for both the parties who have been involved in a savage and bloody war for the last two decades with the mutual animosity and distrust to suddenly enter into a peace process, while continuing hostilities. It is precisely for this reason we propose a process of de-escalation of war leading to cessation of armed hostilities and the creation of a peaceful, cordial environment.”

- Velupillai Prabhakaran,
Great Heroes Day speech, 27 November 2000

There is a misconception that the LTTE’s position does not represent the views of the wider Tamil community. A close analysis of the LTTE stand would reveal that their position reflects the genuine grievances of the Tamil people, which unfortunately have never been understood and addressed by successive Sinhalese governments.

Sri Lankan Tamils believe that Sri Lanka belongs to them as much as any other community and they are entitled to rights and aspirations as any other group of people. Tamils are severely marginalised and feel that they are losing their place irretrievably. This is a process that the Tamil parliamentarians are still unable to arrest. In fact, the Sri Lankan parliamentary system has legitimised the marginalisation. Consequently, Sri Lankan Tamils are unable to develop themselves as full citizens. In addition to constitutional manipulation and blatantly discriminatory legislation and administrative action, violence has been perpetrated systematically against the Tamil community, threatening their very existence as a people.

Tamils see youth militancy as the inevitable result of political mismanagement. The youth correctly argue for cessation if the legitimate rights of the Tamils are not recognised within a united Sri Lanka and their human rights are not protected by the rule of law.

This Tamil Information Centre Publication is now available via. the Ilankai Tamil Sangam, USA.

It is a well-researched document that comprehensively outlines the experiences of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) in the post-independence period; i.e. the last fifty- two years.

Starting with a short description of the island and the early history of its two peoples (Sinhalese and Tamils) with their sequential conquest by the Europeans, it then goes on to show how, with the departure of last colonial power, a form of ‘democratic’ government evolved where one nationality steadily and opportunely usurped all the powers over all the people in the island.

The ensuing pages describe the use of this ‘state power’ of one (the Sinhala) nation to methodically devastate the other (the Tamil nation) in the country now called Sri Lanka. The description is a classic, albeit an extreme, example of the more current version of genocide.

Although the publication is only forty-two pages long, it is not only thorough and complete, but also includes well-chosen quotes from well-known and well-respected independent sources to authenticate this aggression.

This synopsis is highly recommended as a resource book for all who are interested in the conflict in Sri Lanka.

Cost: US$ 10.00 (including S&H) in USA and Canada. Make check/MO payable to Ilankai Tamil sangam and mail to PO Box 46, Maryknoll, NY 10545, USA. Enquiries: sri@sangam.org