Who is responsible to the fear psychosis of the Tamils in Jaffna ? Are the Tamils in Sri Lanka willing to be Sri Lankans ?
Posted on January 7th, 2011
By Charles.S.Perera
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Douglas Devananda had spoken in the ParliamentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to say about the fear psychosis of the Tamils in Jaffna. With a 30 years of war and uncertainty of life under the terrorists during that time,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the fear psychosisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is nothing new to Tamils in Jaffna.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ However, what is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-newƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ is that it follows the elimination of their bane -the terrorism.
This second wave ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-oldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ fear psychosisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with whichƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Devananda says the people in the North are gripped with has come aboutƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ hardly two years after the elimination of terrorism by theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ GovernmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Armed Forces consisting ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Sinhala Buddhist Officers and Soldiers.
The report adds thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Devananda saidƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the people of the North looked forward to aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ peaceful environment after the end of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ war against terrorist, and now the fear is that north will slip back to violence again.
If that fear had arisen among the people of the North it is interesting to examine who is responsible for this state of affairs ? Who brought about that fear psychosis ?
The moment the terrorism was eliminated the people of the north, did not turn to the government to allow it to continueƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to createƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ an environment of peace , despite the fact that the peopleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of Jaffna were aware ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the tremendous development projects the government undertook for their welfare.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
The people of Jaffna and those in the East in the succeeding elections after the elimination of terrorists, did not show any gratitude or place any confidence in the government toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ createƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the necessary environment ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ peace that should have naturally come after the thirty years of continued terrorism.
The people of Jaffna and the Tamils of the East instead took to their confidence the very same people that was responsible for the thirty years ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ their suffering and daily dose of fear psychosis- theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ lackeysƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ terroristsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Tamil National Alliance to provide them a peaceful sanctuary.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is like asking jackals to look after theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ chicken farm.
It isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ evident to any fool who had followed the statements of Sambandhan the Leader of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ TNAƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ its MPs through out the terrorism after they were named by the terrorist Prabhakaran to represent the terrorists ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in Parliament. They were a part and parcel ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Prabhakarans terrorism.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Their existence depended on their servility to the terrorist Prabhakaran.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ They had no voice of their own as they had toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ run to Kilinochchi every now and thenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to get PrabhakaranƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ approval of their actions and speeches in Parliament.
How could TNA MPs have ever given to the people ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Jaffna and the EastƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ peace or progress ?
The fear psychosis ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Devananda is reporting to the Parliament , is the making of the Tamil people of the North and East, themselves.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There is none to be blamed for the sad state into which they have pushed them selves into.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The TNA has no other political aim other thanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that they had been trained in,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and brainwashed to followƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by the terrorist Prabhakaran.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
The TNA stands for division , and separation of the Tamils from the Sinhala people, and they cannot stop terrorism if there is to be another wave of it in Jaffna or the East, as in case terrorismƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ raises its ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-bloodyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ head again ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in Jaffna in what ever way, the TNA will stand by the terrorists as their lackeys- that is their raison dƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢etre.
Devanada had said that he would not embarrass the government internationally by raising the matter in the Parliament.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Devananda should notƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ worry, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as he does not embarrass the government at all.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Government is aware that any disturbance of peace in the North and East, will automatically be made the responsibility of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Government and Armed forces.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Because as long as things are going well for the Tamils, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ there would be those from the diaspora, the international Community, and the TNA taking credit for it.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But moment things go wrong they will accuse the government for abductions, white vans , murders and now the fear psychosis.
But it is the foreign and anti government Media, International community,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Human Rights Watch, the Amnesty International and the Internal anti-government forcesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who made an issue of the suspected terrorist kept separately and demanded their release, who should take full responsibility for what is happening in JƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ affna.
The terrorists who escaped during the last phase of the military operations against the terrorists, along with theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ IDPsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who were evacuated by the humanitarian mission of the Government armedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ forces, were rightly separated from the Tamil Civilians and kept in separate camps for security reasons.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If the government was left alone to settle all these matters of terrorists things would have been different.
But unfortunately the government had to please these ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-foreign vulturesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ out to divide Sri Lanka, and make it a sort of a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-banana stateƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ dependent on them.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It does not matter to them whether the release of suspected terrorists in camps will affect the country negatively, and that it would be a security risk.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The fear psychosis now taking its grip in the North ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ may be the result of this ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-hasty releaseƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ terrorists who had been kept in separate camps.
These elements moving freely in Jaffna, could still be contacted by the pro terrorist Tamil diaspora, through TNA , and through people like Jehan Perera, Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu and rein them in to create an anti government group to causeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ difficulties to the Government to maintain peace and security in theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ North.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It may be the beginning of another armed group calling for a separate Eelam State.
UNP also had been calling for the release ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ these suspected terrorists ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in separate camps, and they may also be responsible for the reported fear psychosis in the North.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
If peace is to be brought about in the North and East, to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ avoid the peopleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to be gripped in to another wave of fear psychosis; the Tamils will have to put their trust in the Government and the Sinhala people and become Sri Lankans without ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ seeking a narrow communal existence.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
The media in Sri Lanka today is the worst a fast developing country like Sri Lanka could have.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ A progressive media should work along with the governmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to unite the communities.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ After the 30 years of savagery under terrorism what is needed today is to create possibilities of bringing the communities together asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lankans. Instead the media publish all types of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ contradictory news items without any basisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ merely to discredit the government.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The people are at a loss not knowing what isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the correct situation and what isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ not.
An armed Force that waged a war against terrorist at a greater cost to themselves, is now not going to abduct,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ kill, or rape the very people they saved from terrorism.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Tamil people should be able to give credit to the armed forces and place their trust in them,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ otherwise they will not be able to save themselves from their fearƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of , ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.. whether their area will be stained with blood againƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as Devananda stated in Parliament..
In the mean time , a group calling it self, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We Are Sri LankansƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ (WASL) organization backed by the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚»ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ had held the security establishments of the country responsible for the string of abductions taking place in the North that had led to an atmosphere of fear in the area.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This is a statement that should not go with out proper action againstƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Udul Premaratne who appears to beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ behind it.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ These are the people responsible for the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ fear psychosisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚» in the North and they should be stopped before they cause further damage.
Tamils should be willing to become Sri Lankans.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamils willƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ not be a part of Sri Lanka as long as they refuse to integrate with other communities to become Sri Lankans. If Tamils stand aloof participating inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ narrow Communal politics associating with TNA and their political objectives they cannot be Sri Lankans a part entieres .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ They will then be a ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ race with one leg in India and the other in Sri Lanka.
There are Tamils in Tamil Nadu. There are Tamils in Malaysia. There are Tamils in Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamils in Tamil Nadu are Indians, Tamils in Malaysia are Malaysians.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But the Tamils in Sri Lanka refuse to be Sri Lankans, they still want to be Tamils..
TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamils in Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ should acceptƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to be Sri LankansƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ before they make any demands.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Sinhala the majority do not want to give any rights to the Tamils,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ but they are ready to share their rights with other Communities including the Tamils, if they give up their narrow Communal identity to identify themselves with all communities as Sri Lankans.
The Tamils do not want to integrate with the Sinhala because of their inane inferiority complex.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Tamils find strength inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- we TamilsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ complex.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ThatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is again the reason why they want a Tamil homeland so that they can feel strongƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ being among themselves.
It is only in giving up their call for a homeland and integrating with other communities as Sri Lankans thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ they willƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ be real patriots of their motherland -Sri Lanka, sharing every thing with their compatriots..
The Sinhala,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who ask Tamils to come and become one with them are not racists. Nor are they supremacists or Chauvinists.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Those are the name callings of un Sri Lankan Tamil racists.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamils of the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Diaspora are notƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lankans because they were born to Tamil parents.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ They will be ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lankans only if they begin to loveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka with all its communities without demanding a separate Tamil homeland. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Their cultural and mental make up do not have any resemblance ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to the Tamils in Sri Lanka, therefore they should convert themselves to become Sri Lankans.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Tamils joining hands with the Sinhala and other communities to become Sri Lankans will also be saved from any fear psychosis as the other communities will be there to rally togetherƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to dispel their fear and give them patriotic affection.
January 7th, 2011 at 9:00 pm
great artilce Charles
January 7th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
I read this article in Tamil week
Is it True ? how could this happen? I wish it never happened Guys . I am very sad after reading this
http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/1913
January 8th, 2011 at 7:57 am
The REAL Fear Psychosis starts in Tamil Nadu with chasm between the Caste Tamils & the Casteless Tamil Dalits. There is nothing Lanka can do about the basic cause of Fear Psychosis among Tamil people. The problem has to be sorted out in Tamil Nadu. It is utterly useless for Tamil leaders to blame GoSL & the Sinhala people for the Root Cause of their problem, and attempt to create separatism in Lanka. That will never solve the problem – in fact, it will make it worse.
I deeply sympathize with the ordinary Tamil people for having to go through such trauma for thousands of years in Tamil Nadu, but there is nothing Lanka can about the root cause of their problem.
However, joining main stream life in Lanka will remove any remnants of fear in Tamil people.
January 8th, 2011 at 10:25 am
In my view, ethnic problems are caused by some Tamils behaving as if they are representatatives of Tamil invaders out to capture the rest of Lanka, using the North and East as a beach head. If the Tamils become Sri Lankans, the the problems would disappear.
January 8th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
Time for younger generation to unite the Country
They should held peace rallies , peace meetings all over the country . People should talk of Peace
A good idea to have cricket , or foot ball matches between sinhala schoos and tamil schools all over the country Govt should spend money to organize .Also Bus tour for Tamil Kids to SInhala areas and Sinhala kids to Tamil areas These are the way we can work hard for Peace. Younger generation should work on it because the future belongs to them
Leo clubs , Interact clubs , Rotary clubs Lion Clubs should organize sinhala tamil gatherings
People of all races should obey the Lankan Flag and a good idea to sing national anthem in all schools
There should be a Zero tolerence against hate crimes . People can not make mistakes any more There should be impartial investigation and those who commit crimes should be punished to the maximum
may be bring Capital punishment for any one who commit murder due to racisim
Today honestly we do not have time or energy to talk BS like who came first and who came last
The country want to have a better future Folks
The price paid for the war is extremly high
. The solution for everlasting peace and bring the country like Singapore is for Tamils and SInhalese to love respect and unite the Country
Time for People in Lanka in each and every village to have peace rallies or unity rallies
There is no need of name calling Bad UNP er or Bad SLFP er or Bad LSSPer the time for every one to unite as one and work hard for peace
Tamils and Sinhalese are different in language , cultcure and religion
Love , compassion and respect can easily unite each other .
http://www.georgerwillypc.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/94-george-willys-speech-to-the-president-of-sri-lanka.html
January 8th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Jimmy:
I generally agree with you.
But we should not wait till racism commits murder. Then it is too late. All forms of racism must be banned. This primarily include racist politics.
Tamil Congress, Tamil Arasu Kachchi, Tamil United Liberation Front, Tamil National Alliance, Sihala Urumaya, Muslim Congress should be banned.
Racist demands should be banned. These include Tamil/Sinhala/Muslim homelands, Tamil/Sinhala/Muslim aspirations (other than cultural ones).
Otherwise racism will once again take hold of the country.
January 8th, 2011 at 5:17 pm
To consolidate peaceful coexistense in the country, racist politics should be banned like in other countries. However, political parties representing minority and majority communities to prevent discrimination are still a vital need of the SriLankan society, untill such time racism is eliminated from the minds of the people.
A good example of the necessity to have groups protecting the rights of agrieved parties is the JHU which was formed when the country was run by President Chandrika K and Prime Minister Ranil W., both of whom did not give any recognition to the rights of sinhala-buddhists. During their rule they side lined the sinhala buddhists, claiming the Govt., represented the sinhala buddhists and therefore, they had to consult only the LTTE, the Catholic Church and other non-sinhala buddhist representatives on matters of vital importance to the nation. With the birth of the JHU only the sinhala-budhist were able to claw back into recognition and compel the Ranil/Chandrika government to listen to the views of majority community of the nation.
Unlike the JHU which is for a unitary state and open society with equal right to all citizens to live wherever they wish to, the problem with TNA is that they still represent the the separatist Tamil mindset of the past, when Tamils were the chosen and privileged people in SriLanka under the 200years plus colonial rule. TNA is a non-patriotic group wanting to retain those extra privileges the Tamils enjoyed under colonial rule and they will keep their brand of racist politics alive as long as racist politicas is not banned. This is a catalyst to create this fear psychosis.
January 9th, 2011 at 6:22 am
As always it’s a great one and I agree with Jimmy. That’s the best we can do encourage youngsters to come out in the open and reject all sorts of violence and promote peace around the country between all races and religions.This is our homeland they have to respect the laws of the land. No one can be allowed to play with our freedom and sovereignty. Exchange Ideas between the two,Organise recreational activities, Visit places and learn all cultures and habbits of each and everyone. Organize cultural shows, Inter schools sport meets,cricket you name it and promote beach vollyball in the east etc. Also learn the languages of both like the President who talks fluent Tamil and address the Tamil people when ever he visits their places. We need Peace at all cost.No more fighting or bloodshed. Those who instigate violence should be severly dealt with an iron hand. Gota is the best for that.He is the man of discipline who honestly can do a job. Religious leaders too should take a lead to bring this two together to live in harmony and in peace. We all want peace no one will like to see bloodshed again.
January 9th, 2011 at 10:21 am
Jimmy
I agree with you that the younger generation should be brought into build the much needed unity among the Communities in Sri Lanka. But the sports meets, concerts and visiting places are good . But if it is to merely meet and then soon forgotten then it is not good enough. In order to build together the country that belongs to every one of us there has to be some thing more deeper.
There should be some thing that is common that make us feel one. The flag , the National Anthem should be respected and then the feeling that this country Sri Lanka which is our motherland that belongs to every one of us, and that every thing we do should bring respect and credit to our country should be instilled in every ones mind.
We should also defend our country and the people of our country whereever we are. We should not allow any one to break this country or bring disrepute , or talk of dividing this country to set up homelands of their own . The country has to be a unitary state. We should learn about its history and be proud of that history which has made what our motherland is today.
Democracy I to respect the choices of the majority. Therefore the government whatever it is if elected by the people should be respected . A government is elected for a period of time and until that period is over we have to cooperate with that government, and f it had not done well we should replace it democratically with another, when the time comes.
A country should have one language, one flag and one National Anthem. It should be respected while a second or a third official language is accepted for administrative purposes.
The Sinhala language takes precedence as it is the language that had been spoken by a majority of the people during a long history of the country. The Sinhala people had made lot of sacrifices to keep this country together and defend it against its enemies and those who had tried to destroy its unity.
When Sri Lanka was colonized the colonial governments had taken away lot of the rights of the Sinhala people who were the majority at the time. There language was reduced to a language of the servants working in the kitchen, the pride of place was given to a foreign language. The Sinhala is not spoken any where else in the world. It is therefore treasured by the Sinhala people. Therefore it is right that at least now the language of the Sinhala people who had been the majority for a long period of time is given the pride of place.
These facts should be instilled in the minds of the young people, that is how I think a durable unity of the communities could be built in Sri Lanka.
January 10th, 2011 at 7:42 am
The Tamil Community is spread all over the world, mainly in Tamil Nadu (India), the Tamil Homeland, with some 55 Million Tamils. I have some questions for all these Tamil people.
My Questions are :
Which country nurtures you at present ? Do you love the country that nurtures you ?
I would request all Tamil people, wherever they are, to please be loyal in a life supportive way to the country that nurtures you at present and try to love that country, be it Sri Lanka, India, Malayasia, Fiji, Canada, UK, Australia, etc.
If you do not love the country you live in at present, then participate in the Democratic Process to change matters for the better for everyone not just Tamils, or emigrate to a country you can love.
Diaspora Tamils are welcome to love Lanka, visit, help, and talk well of Lanka, mix, marry, intermingle. Enter the country vowing to make Peace among all the people of Lanka. Smile with everyone. Think for yourself, and do not follow empty ideas/promises of some Tamil leaders that lead to death & destruction for all.
Yes, and as Jimmy suggests, sing the National Anthem, and honor the Flag.
Then and then alone will a true peace come to the Hearts of the Tamil people. Happiness is the natural companion of Peace.