“Sampanthan, take it or leave itâ€ÂÂÂ: that should be the message to the TNA leader
Posted on June 15th, 2012
Asada M Erpini
The ITAK goal is a separate nation for the Tamils living in Sri Lanka. The TNA leader wholeheartedly endorsed it when he proudly referred to SJV Chelvanayagam as the father of Tamil Nation.
It is a fact that the TNA represents an insignificant proportion of the population of Sri Lanka. The Tamils he and his TNA claim to represent do not add up to even 4% of the population. The so-called upcountry Tamils who live in the Central plantation areas have not shown any interest in joining Sampanthan as a community. His mischievous attempt to increase the size of his supporters clinging on to the label ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Tamil speaking peopleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ does not hold water: the Moors who speak the Tamil language are not the TamilsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ blood brothers, having separate values, beliefs, religion, dress codes and traditions.
The biggest mistake that Sri Lanka has done so far is giving too much of prominence to the Tamils and even to some of the Moor groups that did not value living in a unitary country, and giving in to their unreasonable demands. There are many Tamils living as citizens in Malaysia, Singapore, the UK, South Africa, and now in Canada and other rich countries, but they are pussycats: they dare not demand constitutional changes and separate enclaves for their people because the outcome would be that they will get kicked out, languish in jail or will be told in language that they understand, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Go, jump in the sea if you donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t like what is thereƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. In spite of the Sinhalese constituting over three quarters of the population of Sri Lanka, the people of the calibre of Thondaman from the tea growing areas and the representatives of the Moors from the East became king makers, having the critical say in who ruled the country. What an irony!
Sri Lanka should immediately take concrete action to stop the perpetuation of divisive politics. While some of these would be in the field of infrastructure development, others will fall within the legal ambit. Remaining silent is not an option. The country has come out of a curse that destroyed it for three decades, and those who supported the violent terrorist gang responsible for the mayhem are still alive and kicking. Complacency is certain to result in a return to the dark days when the LTTE called the shots. If that were to happen, it would amount to many from the villages or non-affluent backgrounds having sacrificed their lives in vain.
In addition, Sampanthan should not be given room to dictate terms to the Sri Lanka government and its President. He should be told in clear terms that what is on offer to the North (and the East) is no different to any other province in the country.
June 15th, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Tamils did this complaining even to the English Colonial masters and asked for a separate country. they did not give it. Sri Lankan Govt should not give a hoot about that, instead, as much as the govt can, they should reach to Tamils directly. In here, IF Tamils say they can not speak in English they can speak only Tamils, they don’t get jobs. Because of that, they learn the two major languages – English and French in order to get employment. It is the same custom every where in the world. See, how they use the native majority language written placards during protests. Only in Sri Lanka, they use Tamil and English and not Sinhala.
June 15th, 2012 at 5:24 pm
“take it or leave it”
Exactly!
June 15th, 2012 at 8:09 pm
However it is economy and prevalence of social integrity that work for any country to be truly independent. But the kind of professionalism described in this article, which is endemic all over the economy we cannot dictate much.
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=54535
June 16th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Yes, in simple language suitable to be addresed to these RACIAL MINDED,ILLETERATE VULTURES is,:
Yes Take what we give or ‘Fxxx Oxx’!!!
( I feel even this language is too decent for what they have been doing and still doing!!!)
June 17th, 2012 at 12:14 am
It is clear that Sampanthan, who is leading the LTTE proxy party the TNA, has been given undue importance, even though he has received only a small percent of the votes of the Tamils living in SriLanka as a whole and also the Northern Province taken separately on its own. In a recent speech Sampanthan let the cat out of the bag, when he had stated something to the effect that the separatist have to work hard to ensure there wont be peace with the sinhalese, if the Tamils are to achieve a separate state with outside help, in the not too distant future. I cant see a difference between this policy of dragging insincere discussions with the Govt and the policy adopted by Prabakaran in the past. I wonder why the SriLankan Govt is wasting time wanting to discuss issues with Sampanthan and his TNA, that do not represent the vast majority of Tamils living in SriLanka.
June 17th, 2012 at 12:45 am
Sampandan is a small mouse. Ponnaseka is the big rat.
June 17th, 2012 at 1:42 am
“take it or leave it”
Same old scar one ! last 64 years !
take it – nothink to take !
leave it -nothink to leave ( if anythink their to ) !
Ohhh …Mother lanka , Two Languages , Two community can not solve problm for 64 years !
Are not we sham of ourself !!! look our next door neoubour (India) how poor they are ? not even have toilet for every one of them , How many language, how many community ………… any problm between them !!!