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By: Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
The recent international aid donors conference in
Kandy at which approximately U.S dollars three billion
was pledged on condition that the peace process is
revived; the attempts to establish a post-tsunami rebuilding
mechanism for the north and east involving the joint
participation of the Sri Lankan government, the LTTE
(Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam) and the Muslims;
the evolving national consensus that a federal system
of governance should be adopted in Sri Lanka to
resolve the Sinhala-Tamil and majority- minority
problems; the stance being adopted by the JVP (Jathika
Vimukthi Peramuna) and the JHU (Jathika Hela Urumaya)
to these issues; the crisis involving the Buddha
statue in Trincomalee; necessitate that there is an
awareness of the inherent opportunities and dangers in
the present conglomeration of events among all facets
of the Sri Lankan polity and a consensus to chart a
sensible course to prevent a disaster that could be
worse than anything we have seen before, either
through imprudence or deliberate mischief. This is not
the time for political opportunism, but a time of
unprecedented opportunities.
At the centre of the current debate are the critical
questions as to who has the mandate to represent the
Tamils and negotiate what on their behalf. Unless
these questions as to who has the right to negotiate
and what is to be negotiated are explored in depth and
resolved, any settlement arrived at would be
unsatisfactory and leave the Tamils in particular and
the other peoples of Sri Lanka in general exposed to
decades of continuing suffering and turmoil.
In a recent article titled, The Forgotten Tamils
(Asian Tribune of 15/05/05), Tisaranee Gunasekera has
provided a remarkable insight of the Tamil (& Sinhala)
dilemma. Her analysis crystallized my thoughts on a
subject that has been pre-occupying my mind for some
time. Quoted below are some crucial sentences from
her article, which articulate this dilemma as well as
any one possibly could:
“ A Sri Lankan Tamil has one- and only one- way
of being a really existing human being- he must be a
member or a fellow traveler of the LTTE”.
“ Then there are other Tamils, the ones who fail
to support or oppose the LTTE. They are neither seen
nor heard nor recognized-----. They are the forgotten
Tamils”.
“ The Tamils who are not Tigers; they are
forgotten by the Sri Lankan state which is trying to
correct one historical error with another of equal
magnitude”.
“ The Tamils who are not Tigers; their existence
is occasionally acknowledged by some majoritarian
supremacists, such as the JVP and the JHU, but solely
as a cudgel to beat the Tigers with”.
“For the Sinhala chauvinists all Tamils are
Tigers. For the local and international peaceniks only
Tigers are Tamils”.
“ In a world which requires all Tamils to be
Tigers, the lot of the Tamils, who are not Tigers is
an unenviable one”
“ Our attitude to the present peace process is
one of shame and fear- we are shamed by the manner in
which the country is genuflecting before the Tiger
even as we heave a sigh of relief that the war is
being postponed somehow”.
The quintessential question that begs to be answered
is: Does the LTTE represent the Tamils, across the
spectrum of their aspirations as a people? A very
difficult question indeed, as the mere expression of
this thought would be considered a heresy of
unforgivable magnitude by the noisy minority among the
Tamils who are die-hard supporters of the LTTE and
have unilaterally enthroned Vellupillai Prabhaharan as
the Tamil national leader and anointed the LTTE the
only voice of the Tamils. Nevertheless the question
has to be asked of the silent majority among the
Tamils and their answers sought, if a stable peace is
to be established for the Tamils and in the island.
How this is to be done under the current circumstances
prevailing in the north and east, is going to be a
Herculean task for the Sri Lankan government, even if
it can at least now become sincere in its intents and
approach, and for the interested members of the
international community. This Gordian knot has to be
somehow unraveled as a matter of priority. The other
dilemma would be on how to ascertain and accommodate
the wishes of the Tamil Diaspora, who have played a
crucial role in the Tamil struggle for equal rights
and a rightful place in Sri Lanka. No solution can be
feasible or stable without the whole hearted consent
of this important and influential segment of the Tamil
people.
Is the LTTE the Tamils and are the Tamils the LTTE ?
Mahatma Gandhi and the All India National Congress
did indeed represent the aspirations of the majority
of the Indians in the period leading to independence
and were the true face of India in every sense of the
word- political aspirations, cultural values and
philosophy. Similarly Nelson Mandela and the African
National Congress were the true face of black South
Africa. There was no question or room for debate on
the legitimacy of Gandhi and the Indian Congress or
Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress to
represent their people and negotiate on their behalf.
They had an unquestionable, democratic legitimacy.
The same cannot be said of the LTTE and the Tamil
people, as the legitimacy of the LTTE is quite
fragmented, encompasses only some aspirations of the
Tamils and is to a large extent grounded in
intimidation, violence and fear.
Where are the Gandhi’s, Nehru’s,
Rajagopalachari’s, Sarojini Naidu’s,
Nelson Mandela’s, Walter Sizulu’s, Oliver
Tambo’s, Desmond Tutu’s and Winnie
Mandela’s of the Tamil national struggle?
Similar Tamil men and women of standing, though
probably of not the same caliber and stature, were
either emasculated by the Sinhala political
establishment; died of natural causes; killed, driven
in to exile or silenced with the ever present threat
of violent death for those brave enough to dissent in
the realm of the Tamil militants. Such men and women
or the organizations they would have been affiliated
with, are not in the forefront of the Tamil national
struggle to personify Tamil aspirations in a wider
context and chart a course for the future. Such men,
women and organizations, even if identified, cannot
honestly and sincerely express themselves under the
present circumstances contrived by the LTTE and its
rivals.. While we can identify the urbane and suave
Subash Chandra Bose as the best known advocate of
militancy in India’s freedom movement, a
comparable face in South Africa’s liberation
movement has remained submerged and largely unknown?
Is there a lesson from this for the Tamils in Sri
Lanka? The military components of most freedom,
liberation or revolutionary struggles in other parts
of the world, were submerged within a larger political
process and under political leaders, during and at the
end of these struggles. This is true historically
every where - China, Vietnam, Kenya, Cuba and many
others. Gen. Giap was a great military leader and was
the chief architect of the success of the Vietcong,
however, Ho Chi Ming, the astute and consummate
politician was the leader and face of free Vietnam and
Gen. Giap became the defense minister! The LTTE is on
the other hand a successful military outfit trying
rather unsuccessfully to don a political mask.
Unfortunately it does not have the men or women, the
temperament or the skills to play this political role,
and has to constantly fall back on its military
background to remain relevant.
As much as the slogan Indira is India and India is
Indira, did not carry water with the people of India,
the total identification of the LTTE with the Tamils
or the Tamils with the LTTE does not hold true,
despite the strenuous and often violent efforts of the
LTTE and its fellow travelers to make it appear so.
This is a hard fact that has to be contended with. The
LTTE has let its links with the Tamil people weaken
over the years and is out of touch with their present
aspirations. The LTTE has isolated itself from the
Tamil people, as it is mired in delusions of grandeur,
invincibility and self importance. Prabhaharan has
graduated from being Thamby (Younger brother) to
Meythahu Thalaivar (Honourable Leader) and the LTTE
cadres from Podiyal (Boys, in an affectionate way) to
Iyakkam (Movement). In this process of transition to
a higher plane, the vital link between the people and
the LTTE has been considerably weakened, but not
severed. This does not however imply that the
so-called repentant Tamil militant groups being touted
as the great democrats by the Sinhala political
establishment, have the moral standing to talk on
behalf of the Tamils. When viewed objectively and
dispassionately the LTTE has probably a greater moral
claim, however seriously flawed it may be at present,
than these elements. Unfortunately, the Tamil
National Alliance (TNA), which has elected
representatives of the northern and eastern Tamils in
parliament and should have been the authentic voice of
the Tamils, is packed with LTTE loyalists and has
become subservient to the will of the LTTE. The TNA
is sadly not in a position to express an opinion
divergent to that of the LTTE, even if it is capable
of articulating such an opinion. This void in the
Tamil polity is one of the consequences of the
malevolence and machinations of the likes of J.R.
Jayawardene and, the Tamil militancy, its evolutionary
history and its present status.
The Tamil militancy, that evolved in stages to be
personified by Prabhaharan and the LTTE, reflected
only the anger, impotence and frustration felt by the
Tamil people in the face of the insensitivity,
brutality and inhumanity of the Sinhala political
establishment, and the desire of the Tamils to stand
up to this sadistic onslaught. The LTTE accomplished
this task very successfully, and in a manner far
exceeding the expectations of the Tamil people.
However, this has been achieved at a great cost to the
Tamil people. The Tamils are worse off today than they
were at the beginning of the militancy in terms of
socio-economic parameters and educational attainments,
although their pride and self respect have been
restored to a considerable extent in relation to the
rest of the Sri Lankan polity. This is an undeniable
fact. It is also an undeniable fact the Tamils have
been forced to surrender to the LTTE (and other
militant groups) their democratic rights, which were
exercisable even during days of the worst onslaughts
by the Sinhala political establishment, in the name of
the so-called liberation struggle. It is a very
unsatisfactory trade off.
That a man of the military planning and organizational
capability of Prabhaharan could have emerged from
amongst a passive, self absorbed, timid, God fearing
and peaceful people like the Tamils is one of the
wonders in this world and would be celebrated as a
unique phenomenon in Tamil history. It is also a
reflection of the degree of trauma inflicted on the
Tamils that made this unimaginable phenomenon
possible. As I had described elsewhere, Tamil
militancy was born as a result of the brutal rape of
the Tamils by the Sinhala political establishment. The
greatest mistake made by the Sinhala leaders was not
sensing when to stop in their crusade against the
Tamils. Actions they innocently or deliberately set
in motion- depending on from which side of the fence
these actions are viewed- have boomeranged with the
Tamils being provoked in to reactions that were
unimaginable at the beginning. Are we Tamils in turn
embarked on sequence of actions or reactions that will
be excessive and overstep prudent boundaries, which
will boomerang on us too? The activities of the
Taleban, the fate of the Bamian Buddha statues, the
9/11 tragedy in New York and the reactions of the
United States of America, should teach us some
valuable lessons.
I have no hesitation in saying with conviction that
Vellupillai Prabhaharan is a man born for a purpose
and for a mission. He is a man who was needed at a
particular time in Tamil history. He will be a
legendary figure in Tamil history. The doubts are not
about this aspect of Prabhaharan or the LTTE, but
about his continuing relevance and that of his
movement- the LTTE, in the future of the Tamils, if
they are unable to change to suit the times. I feel
as many Tamils do, that the phase of overt and
aggressive militancy has to come to an end, and can
not be taken forward any further in the face of
national and international developments and the fact
that it has largely accomplished its purpose. The
militancy has run its course. In can only remain a
deterrent, until a reasonable political solution is
arrived at. If forcefully carried forward further, it
can only grievously hurt the Tamils by setting in
motion a reverse reaction encompassing emerging
external factors, which some die hard Sinhala
political elements are embracing with alacrity. As
M.J.Akbar wrote recently, in order to change you first
have to recognize what is wrong, and then the
perspicacity to realize what is right. The second is
more difficult than the first.
The message has been sent to all corners of this world
that the Tamils will not accept a subordinate status
within Sri Lanka any more. This message is quite loud,
quite clear and quite emphatic. The message has
resonated around the world and drawn attention to our
genuine grievances. This is a significant achievement
of the Tamil militancy and the LTTE. The time has now
come to harvest and benefit from the interest, good
will and desire to make amends that has been created
around the world and among the Sinhala people.
Nothing should be done to jeopardize these
achievements at this juncture. We should learn a
lesson from Rajiv Gandhi’s murder and its
aftermath. We should not blind our selves to the
negative aspects of the Tamil militancy and the LTTE,
which are considerable, while being appreciative of
the positive aspects of their role.
All good things and all bad things have to come to an
end some day. What worked on one day will not work
the next. The Tamil saying, Allawukku Minjinaal
Amirthamum Nanju (If excessively consumed, even divine
nectar can become a poison), is quite relevant now.
The intelligence to sense the need to change tact and
be flexible to change course are requisites for
leaders. One can not proceed on a course with closed
eyes or blinkers, because one has been on that road
several times over a long period. This will lead to
fatal accidents. One has to also slow down, consult
maps frequently, read the road signs and make
inquiries from people, especially when traveling on a
road to a new destination. This is true for a nation
or a people. This is the way things are ordained. To
decide the when and how, is a difficult task and in
the case of a people requires an astute leader of
vision, charisma and absolute honesty. If he can be
selfless as well it will be better. Whether we have in
Prabhaharan and the LTTE, these qualities of
leadership is open to question at the present
juncture.
Unless there is an unexpected transformation in
Prabhaharan-which would be very welcome and a cause
for celebration- and as a consequence in the LTTE,
their mission has almost reached a dead end. As much
as a politically active Mahatma Gandhi was irrelevant
to independent India, Prabhaharan may be becoming so.
While Mahatma Gandhi had the wisdom to sense his
irrelevance and give way to Nehru, Prabhaharan may not
do so and even if thus inclined, not permitted by his
ardent followers, the hangers on and the sycophants.
All indications are that Prabhaharan and the LTTE are
determined to rule the Tamils, hook or by crook, come
what may. Their inclinations are not to lead.
Leading requires that the LTTE have the capacity to
transform itself to reflect the present aspirations of
the Tamil people and have the ability to define goals
and objectives- both short and long term, clearly and
convince the people of the validity of its mission.
The LTTE has been deliberately unwilling to do this.
The LTTE is instead forcing the Tamils to support a
largely undefined, ambiguous and deliberately
camouflaged agenda using the military and propaganda
machinery developed over the years of civil war. This
is a dictatorship of the worse kind, which the Tamils
did not bargain for. There is a big difference between
the two- being led and being forced to follow-
although some elements among the Tamils prefer to turn
a blind eye to this. This is the unpalatable and
bitter fact that is confronting the Tamils and the
seed for future turmoil.
The recent statement by Thamil Selvam that the LTTE,
“ Will not work under any authority, direct or
otherwise of the Sri Lanka government”, a few
weeks after returning from an international tour with
a Sri Lankan passport (or a travel document procured
with the acquiescence of the Sri Lankan government)
and using Sri Lankan air force helicopters, Sri
Lankan security force protection and Sri Lankan
government facilities, displays the typical symptoms
of the schizophrenia that has afflicted the LTTE. Who
is trying to hood wink whom? There are many such
instances of duplicity that can be cited and which the
Tamil people are aware of. No one, including the LTTE
should forget that the Tamils are a very intelligent
people. They are quiet and even timid, but they are
not fools and do not like to be fooled.
In a recent article titled, Post-Tsunami Sri Lanka:
Swindlers hold sway, Muthukrishna Sarvananthan has
stated, “----this type of fraud is higher in the
north and east than in the other parts of the country
due to organized attempt by the LTTE to plunder the
state and the donors in the name of tsunami
rehabilitation” and “In the East,
government, LTTE and NGO/INGO personnel are all
involved in corrupt practices. However, in the north
it appears that more or less corruption is monopolized
by the LTTE (mostly through government officials and
of course the TRO as well)”. A serious
indictment indeed! These instances are a glimpse of
things to come, if matters are permitted by the Tamils
to continue as they are now.
The Tamils have to form a consensus on what they want
by way of a political solution to establish their
rights as a people and as a minority in Sri Lanka. As
an independent Tamil Ealam is a futile dream, the
alternative of a federal system of governance has to
be considered and the extent of decentralization
explored and defined. Constitutional governance
should be re-established in all parts of the north and
east, in the true sense of the words, as soon as
possible. The north and east cannot continue to be
the Somalia within our island. To demand, beg and
plead from the Sri Lankan government solutions to the
humanitarian problems facing the Tamils, while
asserting that we will not be subject to the Sri
Lankan government authority is pure bunkum and
hypocrisy of the worst sort. The priority is to
define and seek a permanent political solution.
Everything else, including the humanitarian needs of
the Tamils, will have to follow. The LTTE is
deliberately playing for time, in pursuit of a yet
hidden agenda, being quite aware of the weaknesses in
the Sinhala polity and its, tendency to forget the
past quickly, inability to deal unemotionally with
hard facts, propensity to behave like a bull in a
china shop sometimes and the proverbial ostrich at
others, and habit of deliberately and
opportunistically confusing the noise of extremist
elements with the voice of the masses. The LTTE is
patiently and menacingly waiting- as a tiger would
with sharpened claws, before pouncing on its prey- for
the Sinhala polity to repeat its past mistakes, to
justify its own agenda and actions to the Tamil people
and the world at large. It is unfortunate that the
Sinhala polity that is vociferous in proclaiming its
commitment to a united Sri Lanka, is permitting the
calculations of the LTTE come true by not aggressively
pursuing a permanent solution as an urgent national
priority.
As who will represent the Tamils and, speak and
negotiate on their behalf is somewhat undefined and
the Sinhala political parties can not transcend their
parochial ambitions to arrive at a consensus in the
larger national interest, the setting up of a
constitutional commission, comprising eminent men, to
design a federal constitution for Sri Lanka, has to be
considered a serious option. Representations to this
body can be made by the government, LTTE, parties
representing the Muslims, UNP (United national Party),
JVP, JHU and any body else who wishes to do so. This
commission, which should be set up with international
support and representation, should be mandated to
write a binding constitution within a fixed time frame
that will be subsequently consensually adopted by
parliament. The present constitution can be amended,
if need be, to permit this. Following this a free and
fair elections should be conducted under strict
international supervision to elect members to the
provincial or regional assemblies and the federal
parliament. Any interested individual or grouping
should be able to contest these elections in the north
and east, free from fear and intimidation and seek the
people’s mandate for their stated agenda. The
LTTE may win such an election in the north and
possibly in the Tamil east, in the first instance.
However, it should be made clear that the name LTTE is
dropped and a less fearsome name, signifying a change
in attitudes and agenda be adopted, before
participation in such an election. Conditions should
be created for Prabhaharan to actively participate in
these elections and enter mainstream politics. He has
rare talents and abilities and, these should be
available to the Tamil people and Sri Lanka, but
through democratic and civilized mechanisms.
If a suitable and largely acceptable federal
constitution is promulgated with the greatest possible
devolution of power to the provinces or regions to be
designated based on geographical, historical,
linguistic, cultural and economic realities and the
Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims learn to work within it
sincerely and with honesty of purpose, I am sure we
can face a future of hope, progress and prosperity for
all peoples of Sri Lanka. If not, Sri Lanka is bound
to become a hell on earth.
“---It is exactly during times like this that we
need more freedom of speech, a strong and critical
press, and a citizenry that is not afraid to stand up
and say the emperor has no clothes and even less a
brain. If we lose our courage to say something like
that we are doomed. --- I hope I am wrong about this
and that we will all come together to change the
course of this country, to take it back from these
stupid white men who have stolen it from us. They
thrive on our indifference and revel in our inaction.
It is up to us- you, me, and our fellow citizens- to
do this and to make this book relevant”.
- In STUPID WHITE MEN, Michael Moore
(Penguin Books, 2004)
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