The status of the minority communities in Sri Lanka – Thinakkural Editorial


(Tamil Insight, 03 10 2008) - The Colombo based newspapers have reproduced an interview that the Army Commander Sarath Fonseka gave to Canada’s Nation Post.

In his interview, he held the view that the war will come to an end within a period of another year. In fact, Commander Fonseka, whose term of office ends in December this year, told the press at the beginning of this year, that he does not wish to hand over this war to his successor.

In his interview, he expressed another view regarding the status of the minorities in the country which has drawn our attention.

In his interview, he stated, “ the war has broken out since Tamils have chosen Sri Lanka to establish a Tamil state for them. The majority Sinhalese will never let the minority Tamils to divide the island. Let me say with certainty that this country belongs to the Sinhalese people. The minorities can live but cannot make unacceptable demands under the guise that they are minorities”

This view of the Army Commander is not a new perception. It was the view former President D.B.Wijetunge held 15 years ago. This only echoes Sinhala Buddhist extremism. In fact, President Jayawardena, in the aftermath of 1983 riots stated that he was not worried about the views of the Tamil people.

In the present context, when the South is determined for a military solution, no one comes forward to talk about the rights of the minorities and their political aspirations.

The Sinhala people view the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as factors to entrench Buddhist Sinhala imperialism. They do not see beyond for national integration.

Tamil national struggle took a violent turn when their just demands were denied, when a political solution was not found. The South has forgotten the cause and focuses only on violence!

(An English translation of the Editorial in the Thinakkural, a Tamil daily based in Colombo. Translated by tamilinsight.org)

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One Response to “The status of the minority communities in Sri Lanka – Thinakkural Editorial”

  1. ACID - January 16th, 2009 at 9:04 pm

    Dear Tamil brothers and sister,

    The RAW policies, in the process of attempting to fulfill Madam Sonia’s wishes to the point of compromising Indian sovereignty, reflects weakness in Indian regional security policies.

    Obstacles for Free Eelam
    • The two individuals behind the scene are obviously the NSA and the Italian born Madam Sonia Gandhi.
    • The subtle element of Tamil/Indian Brahmins – Subscribes to AIADMK
    • Congress men – manipulating the obsolete ideology of possibility of TN succession.

    I believe, as long as we recognize the challenges obstructing Free Eelam objectively, we can work around these 4 major obstacles.

    Eelam think tanks need to speculate seriously about a Mechanism that will continuously work to counter such elements and create the relevance and necessity of Free Eelam with New Delhi. We need to speculate this notion seriously to bring about Global Tamils solidarity for the formation and financing of such a body in Indian soil.

    Studying the modus operandi of American Israel lobbying for US foreign policy via AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) will be a good start.

    This mechanism/body should be founded on principals around issues articulated as below:-
    • Sponsor campaigns during Indian Election (which is around the April 2009) on both right and left wing to ensure Free Eelam interests are protected.
    • Necessitate southern Indian security that lies with the strategic partnership of Eelam formation.
    • Continuously obstruct elements that stand in the way of Free Eelam be it civil servants, bureaucrats or even politicians beyond Tamil Nadu.
    • Bring about Global Tamils to assert their strength in 2009 Indian Election.
    • Necessitate the Implementation of one of the wealthiest sea trade route Sethu Samutharam, retrieving Kachai Theevu and Free Eelam formation, in order to safeguard regional prosperity.
    • Make aware that Current failing New Delhi policy has allowed China and Pakistan arms at the doorstep of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. People of South India with the help of Global Tamils have to take responsibility of their own destiny in protecting the resources, prosperity and security.

    Tamil Eelam’s military leadership alone can only keep the Free Eelam flame alive.
    The final piece of the missing jigsaw, which would secure Free Eelam can possibly happen by shifting the Indian politics via body with functional ability such as AIPAC thus making Global Tamils a decisive player in Indian politics beyond Tamil Nadu in 2009 Indian Election.

    ACID –Foreign Affairs
    Ipoh, Perak.
    Malaysia

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