Rebuilding Trust: A Plea For Constructive Engagement From Tamils Worldwide
The decades-long civil conflict in Sri Lanka caused immense suffering across all communities—Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims, and Burghers. While the magnitude of suffering varied, no group emerged unscathed. For many, the pain persisted not just for a year or two, but for over three decades. Those who left the country experienced their share of hardships, though their suffering was incomparable to those who remained amidst the devastation. This isn’t a contest to determine who endured the most; the focus must be on ensuring such a tragedy never happens again.
We must remain vigilant to prevent even the smallest missteps that could unravel the fragile peace and harmony we have today. History has shown us how easily tensions can flare and quickly spiral out of control, a risk amplified manifold in the era of social media. While we cannot bring back those lost too soon, we can take meaningful actions—such as releasing those still unjustly imprisoned—and work tirelessly to ensure that discord does not take root again.
The Tamil people have sent a strong and unprecedented message by giving their mandate to a Sinhalese-led party under Anura Kumara Dissanayake. This marks a historic shift, signaling a desire for change and reconciliation. It is imperative that the current government is given the time and support needed to fulfill its promises. This is not the moment for the diaspora to agitate or create unnecessary noise that could provide fuel for extremist elements to disrupt progress. Any misstep or unnecessary interference risks sowing doubts and reviving suspicions among the majority population—a spark that could reignite old tensions.
The majority of Tamils in Sri Lanka are praying for peaceful coexistence. While it is essential to hold the government accountable, it is equally important to approach this with patience and reason. Previous attempts to address these issues through agitation have failed spectacularly. Why not adopt a new strategy this time—one rooted in cooperation and measured progress? Persisting with the same failed approaches is nothing short of madness.
The diaspora, while often well-meaning, must exercise restraint. Those who claim to safeguard Tamil culture, language, heritage and the territorial integrity must ask themselves: If these values are so paramount, why are they not in Sri Lanka, working to protect them firsthand? Instead, they risk disrupting progress from afar, while enjoying the safety and privileges of Western democracies. It is crucial to avoid becoming pawns in their agendas, often cloaked in the guise of benevolence. Let us give this government a genuine chance to succeed and focus on solutions that prioritize peace and reconciliation for those living through these challenges daily. (Colombo Telegraph – December 2, 2024)
Veluppillai Thangavelu
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The author of the article has made an appeal to the Tamil Diaspora to return to their country of birth. Many will gladly do so if they are treated with equality and dignity. They compare the freedoms and rights prevalent in the West compared to what you get in their country of birth.
In Canada, for example, more than 100 different ethnicities live in amity and peace. The country’s religious and ethnocultural diversity is welcomed and celebrated. According to the 2020 General Social Survey, 92.0% of the population aged 15 and older agreed that ethnic or cultural diversity is a Canadian value. In fact, in Canada diversity and inclusiveness are taken for granted. It is a tremendous source of strength.
In Canada fundamental rights like (a) freedom of conscience and religion; (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press; (c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and (d) freedom of association are not only enshrined in the constitution, they are also practised in everyday life.
Canada is a constitutional monarchy, but a parliamentary democracy, founded on the rule of law and respect for rights and freedoms.
Now compare this with what prevails in Sri Lanka. The present government came to power on the promise to abolish the infamous PTA. But now it says there is nothing wrong with the law itself, but it was misused for political reasons. It is using the PTA to arrest an individual who had the photograph of the LTTE leader uploaded on his Facebook.
If JVP can commemorate the “martyrdom” of its founder Rohana Wijeweera, who launched two unsuccessful armed revolts to capture power, why call Prabhakaran who fought a conventional war for an independent Tamil Eelam a terrorist? Logically, if Prabhakaran is a terrorist so is Wijeweera! The latter would have ascended the throne through the ballot not bullet. But Prabhakaran had no such choice.
The JVP has a long and sordid record of anti-Tamil policy. They opposed the Indo-Ceylon pact, the 13A Amendment, and the P-Tom agreement, and recruited over 60,000 Sinhala youths to the army. It went so far as to ask the government to use chemical weapons against the LTTE at the closing stages of the war.
Like the previous governments the JVP which claims it is a Marxist-oriented party has rejected UNHRC Resolution 50/1 to shield Sri Lankan officials accused of human rights abuses. war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during war.
The latest bombshell has been dropped by Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the JVP that his government will do away with 13A and the Provincial Councils. He dares to claim that his party has obtained a mandate from the Tamil people. Suffice it to say this is a spurious claim.
Very soon the Tamils who voted for the NPP will realise that this government is in sheep’s clothing!