by Appuacci; originally published February 5, 2004
Dear Mr. Secretary,
Today is February 4, 2004; the day Britain handed over the reins of government to the people of Sri Lanka (the former Ceylon).
Lord Soulbury, in a Foreword to the book A Divided Nation by B. H. Farmer, showed his bitter disappointment at the direction Ceylon took during and after the shocking events of 1958. “.. that this Government of Ceylon was fully aware that the contentment of the minorities was essential not only to their own well-being but to the well-being of the island as a whole.”
Lord Soulbury further commented: “Needless to say the consequences have been bitter disappointment to myself and my fellow Commissioners. While the Commission was in Ceylon, the speech of certain Sinhalese politicians calling for the solidarity of the Sinhalese and threatening the suppression of the Tamils emphasised the need for constitutional safeguards on behalf of that and other minorities, despite the confidence felt by the commission in Mr. D. S. Senanayake and any Government under his control.”
Mr. Secretary, Tamils did not take up arms for a strike against the Sinhala Buddhist governments with no provocation. In fact, to coin a phrase, it was a ‘post-emptive’ effort to defend the Tamils after every known non-violent approach to Sinhala Buddhist domination over the Tamils not only failed, but exacerbated Tamil sufferings. The absence of political will and inadequacy of the powers between the two feuding Sinhala elite leaderships is not conducive to peaceful Tamil life in Sri Lanka. Tamils are, therefore, left with a single rationale: President Chandrika’s maneuver to mishandle the ceasefire that has lasted for more than two years despite the provocation of the Sinhala Buddhist loyalists forces of the President.
Tamils see in you, Mr. Secretary, the ability to make the next ‘donor meeting’ in Washington a meaningful deliberation by inviting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who have earned a name for themselves as the true ‘peace lovers’ and the rightful leaders of the Tamils. Let your action pave the way for Tamils to feel free to enjoy the next Independence Day celebrations.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Ramalingam Shanmugalingam
8324 Regents Road Unit 2 D
San Diego CA 92122
Tel. (858) 546 8542
February 4, 2004