July 1983: The legacy of Prabhakaran and India
Posted on July 22nd, 2013
Janaka Perera
Tuesday July 23 marks the 30th anniversary of the disaster that became a turning point in the history of post-independence Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It brought shame on people who had nothing to do with the mob violence. They, especially Sinhala Buddhists as a whole, were made to look racists of the worst kind. Attempts were also made to misinterpret the violence as a Buddhist-Hindu conflict. Some called Sinhalas cannibals. The country was vilified in the global media.
It also opened the way for dubious international do-gooders and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”peace-makersƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ to fish in troubled waters. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Conflict resolutionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ became a lucrative pastime which continues to this day.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The two Southern insurgencies in 1971 and 1988-89 never generated such interest though many were killed by both the insurgents and pro-government vigilantes. The reason for the lack of interest perhaps was that these victims were not ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”marketableƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ unlike the Tamils who died in 1983 and thereafter. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Every year the media, human rights crusaders and others never fail to remind us the horrors of the rioting which claimed many lives and sparked-off a mass exodus of Tamils from Sri Lanka. But far less attention is given to the culprits who manipulated the violence which the government of the day allowed to spread following the killing by the LTTE of 13 Sri Lankan Army personnel in Tinneveli, Jaffna.
The LTTE attack that killed the soldiers of the Army patrol codenamed ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Four BravoƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ was the latest of a string of Tiger attacks targeting pro-government politicians, the police and other law-enforcement officers, beginning with Jaffna Mayor Alfred DuraiappahƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s assassination in 1975. The Tinneveli incident was however the first attack on a military convoy
It is no secret that Indian intelligence agencies were giving the Tigers and other Tamil militants 100 percent training and supplying them with military hardware.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Obviously the remote controlled-land mine that blew up the Sri Lanka Army convoy at Tinnevelly came via from Indian supply lines.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The best photographic evidence of IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s involvement was published in India Today in 1984.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ SLFP Stalwart and MP Lakshman Jayakody tabled that issue of the IT in Parliament.
I was then attached to the press section of the American Embassy, Colombo having left Lake House three years earlier. I still had contacts in the right places at the time since I was a news reporter for over 10 years before I joined the embassy. It was no problem to find out from my sources how decisions were taken at the highest government level in the wake of the LTTE attack on the Army.
At the time of the incident Deputy Inspector General of Police W.B. Rajaguru was in Jaffna. He promptly informed senior DIG (Crimes) Colombo Ramachandra Sunderalingam who in turn contacted IGP Rudra Rajasingham and Defence Ministry Secretary, General Sepala Attygalle. (In the 1970s Sunderalingam was among the first to warn the Sirima Bandaranaike Government on the rise of the LTTE to which the authorities at the time did not pay serious attention)
Following the Tinneveli incident some army personnel began running amok in the area. They were in fact unwittingly doing exactly what the LTTE wanted ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” to project to the world that Sri Lankan soldiers were blood thirsty murderers killing innocent Tamil civilians. The then Amy Commander, Lt. General Tissa ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”BullƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ Weeratunga immediately flew to Jaffna to assess the situation..
At the Security Council meeting held soon afterwards, General Attygalle appraised President J.R. Jayewardene on the ground situation. President Jayewardene made it clear that the bodies of the 13 soldiers should be buried in Jaffna as done in a war. But when this was conveyed to Lt. Gen. Weeratunge his response was ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Sir if that is attempted I too will be buried since the army is in a mutinous mood ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-or words to that effect.
So the alternative was to bring the bodies from Jaffna to Katunayake from where they would be sent to the respective villages in hearses. General Attygalle requested DIG Sunderalingam to make the necessary arrangements. Then a sudden change of plans occurred. They were asked to bring the bodies to Ratmalana Airport instead of Katunayake and take them to RaymondƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s funeral parlour in Borella for embalming and burial at the General Cemetery, Kanatte. That was a fatal decision. No one knows why such a blunder was made.
The other serious mistake the government made was its failure to declare a 48-hour curfew the very day the bodies were buried at Kanatte. Instead the authorities hesitated until the afternoon of the following day, July 24, to declare curfew. By then it was too late. Mobs were already on the rampage. They were equipped with voter registration lists, thereby giving credence to the allegation that some ruling party politicians were behind the violence, Underworld gangs too joined the looting, pillage and murder. There was absolutely no way of nipping it in the bud. The curfew was never effectively enforced even after it was declared.
While a number of Tamils fled Colombo and suburbs (and eventually the country), many Sinhalas and Muslims did their best to save the lives and properties of Tamils braving the thugs. The victims were sheltered in government buildings, temples and houses of Sinhalas and Muslims during the ensuing days.
This was Velupillai PrabahakaranƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s dream come true. His strategy obviously was to create a backlash in the South. LTTE supporters worldwide had already done the ground work to take maximum propaganda advantage the moment the violence occurred. The government most unfortunately failed to perceive this and simply walked into the Tiger trap.
The one sensible move President Jayewardene made ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” though compelled to sign the Indo-Lanka Accord in 1987 – was his success in getting the Indian Army embroiled in a battle with the LTTE and having many of them killed by the very terrorist outfit the Indian Government helped to train. The world knows that a number of Tamil civilians too died ether in cross-fires or as a result of being mistaken for Tigers during the Indian Army operations in the North and East of Sri Lanka. But hardly any international human rights group to date has accused India of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Tamil genocide.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢
As for those Tamils who imagined they were in a frying pan before 1983 the LTTE made sure that they and the whole country were pushed from the frying pan into the fire that was to rage for almost three decades. The so-called Tamil liberation struggle achieved absolutely nothing for Tamils, except misery and untold suffering. It paved the way for the destruction of whatever they had achieved or built up after the British left the shores of Sri Lanka in 1948, despite whatever problems they thought remained unsolved.
Black July 1983 achieved for the Tigers more than what they wished for. It ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”justifiedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ in the eyes of the world their brutal separatist campaign though it was eventually crushed. The separatist dream however is not dead yet.
The biggest misfortune Sri Lanka has experienced since the events of 1983 is that her sovereignty has been compromised. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The dividing line between those who criticize governments in the national interest and those who do so to serve dubious foreign agendas has been completely blurred. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It appears that patriotic Sri Lankans are almost caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, especially after the LTTE was militarily crushed in May 2009.
July 22nd, 2013 at 1:56 pm
No matter how bad VP was he had a good side too.
e.g. He looked after his youngest child with loving care.
Similarly 1983 has SO MANY BAD things for the country but there was one good thing. It sent hundreds of thousands of Tamilians OUT of SL REDUCING the power of Tamil terrorist parties, reducing the separatist power in SL, reducing the number of men available for LTTE military service, reducing traitors, reducing potential suicide bombers, reducing potential LTTE leaders, etc.
1983 was done by TAMILS to go to Europe and Canada as refugees. Make no mistake. It was NOT done by the Sinhalese. It was FOOLISH of Chandirikka to apologize for something SL didn’t do.
Because of this foolish act now AGAIN the Tamilians want to govt. to apologize for 2009 for SAVING Tamilians!!!
Tamils ONLY blame SL (for no reason) on 1983 BUT NEVER mention the MASSIVE BENEFITS they got from it.
This is why we should look at BOTH sides of this UGLY bloody coin. It is ABSOLUTELY NO justification of that disgusting act done by Tamilians and RAW which burnt my home in Wellawatta too.
July 22nd, 2013 at 4:02 pm
Tamil Nadu Caste Wars were successfully transferred to Sri Lanka. Even as far back as the 1920s Tamil leaders have been trying for Separatism. It is nothing new.
After Sri Lanka govt brought about the Social Disabilities Act (1957) to help out the low caste Tamils who were treated less than second class citizens (no entry in school class rooms, no entry into the Hindu temples, etc.etc.) the upper caste Tamils have been trying to reinstate the Caste structure in the North. Hence the Caste Wars in which South Lanka has got embroiled.
As for the 1983 Riots, it was a set up. It was filmed with heavy film cameras and films sent abroad to the Tamil Ambassadors (Luxmi Naganathan, Balachandran & Moorthy) in the west to Germany, France & UK, and these films were shown to politicians abroad. That is how the vilification of Sri Lanka started – thus was Mother Lanka betrayed for educating and nurturing her Tamil population. It was after the 1983 Riots that JR was forced to sign the 13-A by India. The 13-A is used to this day to further betray the indigenous people of Lanka.
No, the Riots of 1983 did NO GOOD for the vast majority of people of Lanka. It has brought the 13-A, ill fame, ill will & bad luck with it. How many of our able leaders must be murdered or trodden down before this monstrous 13-A is
removed and Tamil Separatism stopped ? India is heartless to USE Lanka in this manner.
Tamil Caste problems begin in Tamil Nadu. Illegal Tamil migrants bring their baggage of Caste problems to Lanka with them. Stop illegal migration. If Tamil folk want to migrate, they ought to apply for that from Tamil Nadu, not from Sri Lanka. Go Chennai/London/Toronto direct, omit Colombo. The UN ought to arrange for all that.
July 22nd, 2013 at 4:11 pm
Sri Lankans must sort out their LABOR problems, particularly in the plantations sector, and not depend on Tamil labor so much.
July 22nd, 2013 at 4:26 pm
Fran,
1983 riots did not bring us 13A.
13A came exactly the same situation as in 2009 May. Why nothing came in 2009 May ?
Therefore nothing will come thereafter, it is our THIEVES OF THE COUNTRY, who with extreme greed, worshiping the Siva Lingam instead of Buddha.
Why are these thieves want an election now ? 2009 is the time to kill 13A outright and the thieves did not do it. Endia is their main source of income.
July 22nd, 2013 at 4:28 pm
“The dividing line between those who criticize governments in the national interest and those who do so to serve dubious foreign agendas has been completely blurred.”
Fully agreed. What shall we do ? If we talk too much we look like UNPiers. If we don’t talk, we are betrayers.
July 22nd, 2013 at 5:54 pm
I am somewhat surprised even our realativs in Lanka DID not inform us of the masacer DONE by Tamils. Even if we had known, no way of influening UNP or Chandrika, it would have been of NO USE, because both parties have vested interests in the WEST.
Still Chandrika is revered by some foreign countries, THINKING maybe by a fluke Chandrika & UNP forces battle for the sake of the WEST. Western countries STILL feel somday this UN-PATRIOTIC lot will come with a plan to get rid of Rajapaksha regime.
Not that we are fond of the present Govt., but better of the two evils, and at least they PAY some attention to BUDDHIST CLERGY & that in itelf is remarkable. With all this damage & DOUBLE talk by India & the West, we STILL pay so much attention to India.
As Mr. Charles Perera, outlined in an article, A 200.Billion compensation MUST be demanded from INDIA. IF NOT we will get involved in every attempt India makes to KEEP KASHMIR, & other trouble spots. It is time to GANG UP against India, perhaps ARM the MAOIST rebels & other trouble makers INDIA keep subdued, under threat.
I cannot STILL understand why our Politicians RUN to India, and worry so much NOT to annoy India, LETS ANNOY INDIA so that they feel HOW we felt, when they ARMED LTTE, Provided inteligence & FINALLY VOTED twice AGAINST SRI Lnka, at UN HRC.
Are not that enough damage caused by India for us retaliate?? I think there are many who will support us, if we fight aginset India, & IGNORE every demand she makes. There are some willing Lankans, BUT they need right leadership.
Thank you all…….I am glad that July 22nd & 23rd is celebrated in a calm & quite manner, so that RANVRU soldiers will NOT feel emabarrassed & angered, by what happend many years ago…..WE TAKE VERY little effort to praise & reward our GALLANT soldiers. In the USA, they do not worry about anything BUT their soldiers. That type patriotic feeling is NOT in Sri Lanka.
Another expat….expresing his views…….May the Noble Triple Gems Guard all our citizens including RAN VIRU soldiers……..GOD BLASS UNITED SRI LANKA…~~.J
July 22nd, 2013 at 8:22 pm
Fran,
July 1983 did NOT bring 13th amendment.
Actually it DELAYED it.
Widespread MISTRUST, violence, hatred, etc. made ANY political solution NOT possible after 1983.
In July 1987 Endia invaded us and imposed its 13th amendment because SL army was on the verge of a massacre of terrorists.
If not for the barbaric act of July 1983 by Tamils there may not be a 6th amendment (passed in August 1983) and instead would be the 13th amendment (called the 6th amendment). Another case of foolish Tamilians digging their OWN grave.
July 1983 discredited SL but NO WAR CRIMES.
Legitimate May 2009 events discredited SL MUCH MORE and led to war crimes investigations too!!
July 22nd, 2013 at 8:30 pm
Religious, moral and spiritual considerations MUST be kept OUT when discussing national security.
Nations do horrible things to protect national security. SL should not be any exception.
July 1983 was done by TAMILS upon Tamils (Tamils have done such things throughout history) which discredited SL but came with the advantage of lessening the TULF power, lessening FUTURE LTTE cadres and leaders, reducing the Tamil population from 12% to 11% at least, etc.
More bombs would have gone off in Colombo had there been a LARGER Tamilian population after 1983 (more hiding places for LTTE). The population reduced drastically and many went to Jaffna, etc. for a few years.
ALL LTTE leaders in 2009 were PRE-JULY 1983 Tamil activists. AFTER July 1983 there were fewer people and a smaller recruitement base for the LTTE. Their leaders grew OLD and useless but no younger generation to take over as MOST Tamil youngsters were either born abroad or dead as child soldiers. the FEWER youngster who grew to adulthood were needed for economic activities and for breeding and couldn’t be dragged to war.
July 23rd, 2013 at 5:08 am
SG & Lorenzo,
Here’s how we see it. Feel free to write in how you see the picture.
The Cold War was the overall reason for imposing of the 13-A, but the trumped up 1983 Riots were the EXCUSE for India imposing the 13-A. In my view, it were the staged Riots of 1983 that weakened Sri Lanka’s then openly pro-west JRJ government and enabled the then pro-Soviet India to step in with the 13-A. The 13-A was a ‘divide & rule’ by India hurriedly made to fit the Cold War needs of India’s pro-Soviet stand. But the 1983 Riots enabled India to step in and take over with the 13-A. The 1983 Riots enabled Tamils to flee west and formed a pro-west core during part of the Cold War.
In the midst of the Cold War (1946-1991) there were the Northern Tamil Caste Wars (NTCW) plus the Southern Class Wars (SCW). Both NTCW & SCW rode on the back of the Cold War, up to a point.
Now that the Cold War is over, a new era of politics for the Tamils have set in. Tamil leaders (to lead) are still holding on to the old ideas of Separatism as some of the Caste structures still exist in Tamil Nadu and some, though less, of it in Sri Lanka too.
————
May be Sinhela & Tamil (and Muslims, if they wish), people ought to sit down together and Meditate to bring a lasting inner peace ? I don’t see any other way for our spirits of heal.
July 23rd, 2013 at 5:16 am
Yes, SG, you are right, the ‘Economic factor’ plays a large part in the present day Tamil leaders actions/politics.
July 23rd, 2013 at 5:51 am
Fran,
I disagree.
Endia had MANY agreements with SL to EXPORT Tamils to SL.
e.g. 1964, 1974, 1984? (=1987), 1994 (helping Chandirikka), 2004 (helping govt. change in SL), 2014????
13th amendment was the natural next step of that. Endia helped Tamils with weapons YEARS BEFORE 1983! LTTE killed Duraiappa wiith Endian weapons. Bombed banks with Endian weapons.
By 1983 LTTE was a fully fledged terrorist outfit.
Actually because of 1983 (which is BAD) Endia probably POSTPONED 13th amendment. The MISTRUST didn’t help ANY political solution. That was an UNINTENDED BYPRODUCT of Tamils’ riot against Tamils.
July 23rd, 2013 at 5:58 am
In July 1983 Endians ships took Tamilians from Colombo to Jaffna.
Endian warships were in SL.
But no 13 amendment!!
Because the atmosphere was NOT good for it then as people blamed, attacked, hated each other after the riot.
If the atmosphere was better Endia would have CERTAINLY pushed a federal model in 1984 following the 10 year Endian curse.
So the prediction is in 2014 there will be another KALLATHONI operation by Endia.
July 23rd, 2013 at 7:07 am
Lorenzo,
I agree with what you say India did all along. But the Cold War was the reason. I repeat that the Cold War started the animosity between the two countries. The Cold War lasted a long time from 1946 to 1991. It created huge masses of weaponry and armies on both sides. Prior to the Cold War, in the basic near history sense, the Indo/Lanka relations were excellent. Both countries were then suffering under the British colonial yoke.
You say : “Endia had MANY agreements with SL to EXPORT Tamils to SL.
e.g. 1964, 1974, 1984? (=1987), 1994 (helping Chandirikka), 2004 (helping govt. change in SL), 2014????”
As you say the export of low caste Tamils from Tamil Nadu probably started in 1964 AND CONTINUED for many reasons even after the Cold War finished. This was because :
* Tamils willingly flee Tamil Nadu due to Caste/poverty and discrimination.
* Lanka Tamil politicians wanted to pad up Tamil numbers.
* The Separatist factor which failed in South India (with Tamil Nadu in the lead) was transferred to Lanka via Federalism, Eelam, and the latest Self Determination.
* Lanka needed Labor for the tea sector especially.
* Lanka offered a safer & more comfortable haven from Caste/poverty in Tamil Nadu.
* Lanka offered Free Education & Health Care.
* The Free Education enabled Tamils to go to the affluent west in larger and larger numbers.
I am sure that there are other reasons too.
To stop all Kallathoni operations, modern Sri Lanka Identity Cards must be issued to true born Lankans. These cannot be forged. In fact, we saw an article which stated that India has commenced issuing such ID cards. Why shouldn’t Sri Lanka ?
It is a Security matter and the Ministry of Defence should handle it.
July 23rd, 2013 at 11:22 am
There are two issues that stand out in this article. the first is that the Sri Lankan civil war was never a local issue. From the beginning the Sri Lankan civil war included some major players. Outside of Colombo and the Tamil Tigers it included India where RAW trained the Tamil Tigers in many of her states while Tamil Nadu played host to the Tamil Tigers when they attacked and fled. To counter India both Pakistan and China supported Colombo against the Indian proxy war. When the war ended India did not relent but went on to persuade the US to issue two separate acts of human rights violations based on a film clip called “channel four” and without any further investigation. Again those who supported Colombo in the war also supported Sri Lanka against these trumped up charges. One now can even add the powers of Russia and the US as opposing forces in the post war Sri Lanka.
The second issue is the role that European nations had played during the war and after it. the Norwegian peace keeping force was worse than a farce for their presence only extended the war and after the war ended many of these European nations especially Britain our former ruler was quick to join the line of nation to condemn Sri Lanka on the human rights issues and continue to dictate domestic policy. The British empire made Sri Lanka one of her colonies and dictated the rules of governance. Now even though Sri Lanka is an independent nation these European nations still have the same mentality to dictate the domestic issues of some of their former colonies (As the Muslim nations have realized this post Empire mentality and have drawn from their own culture to form their own governments). If the situation was reversed and Sri Lanka were to dictate to her former masters on any domestic issue of Britain or the US it would be summarily dismissed.
July 23rd, 2013 at 2:00 pm
Fran,
Yes it was cold war that pushed Endia to do it. Plus TN politics.
But the July 1983 events pushed Endian plans back. I’m pretty sure after July 1983 kalathoni arrivals REDUCED and there was a NET OUT migration of Tamilians until 1987 when kallathonis started to come back.
July 24th, 2013 at 12:04 am
We must legalise kallathoni arrivals. Select only the low caste ones, bring them to Galle, legally, force them to learn Sinhala, convert to Buddhism and after that send to Jaffna.
What do U think Lorenzo ?
July 24th, 2013 at 12:28 am
SG,
It worked in the past.
It works today IF Tamil is NOT an official language. It doesn’t work now.
The moment they reach Jaffna they become common Tamil racists when “sympathetic” other Tamils cry (crocodile tears of course) for their fate of “structural genocide”, etc.
Some Tamilians in Matara have complained to UNHRC, NGOs and foreign media that they don’t have enough Tamil schools in Matara. This is their mentality.
If Sinhala ONLY is again imposed they will keep silent and learn it to SURVIVE. Then it does NOT MATTER even if they get provincial power in the north and east. It will be Sinhala rule by Tamils. Others will LEAVE SL which is also good.
We have to look for ways to do what they call “structural genocide”.
When Tamils say genocide it actually means GENEROSITY.
e.g. Genocidal Colombo govt = GENEROUS Colombo govt.
e.g. education genocide = generous provision of education
e.g. internationally accepted genocide = internationally acceped generosity
July 24th, 2013 at 4:11 am
Lorenzo,
The 1983 event enabled Tamils to go WEST and NOT to the Soviet bloc. This speaks volumes. It was a planned ‘refugee arrival’ to the west.
You are correct in saying that “But the July 1983 events pushed Endian plans back” in that the Kallathoni arrivals reduced, but the 1983 Riots WEAKENED Sri Lanka GOVT.. (JRJ govt.) and the 13-A HAD to be accepted via India.
India will always interfere with her small neighbors when her Security issues are at risk. For Sri Lanka, stopping Kallathoni
arrivals and deporting illegal migrants already in Sri Lanka, is one of the key points to address in order to achieve some stability in the country.
———
Inside each human being there is the outer struggle for acquiring goods & services, plus the inner struggle for balance between the human Heart vs Mind. We are in the midst of a battle royal ! Meditation gives some balance. When the inner being is balanced, the outer struggle becomes less intense too, and life becomes sweet again.
July 24th, 2013 at 5:16 am
The ‘Kallathoni’ problem has to be addressed in Tamil Nadu itself. Otherwise, where does this problem stop ? There are some 11 MILLION Tamil people under the Scheduled Caste sector. These poor people will go on reproducing and the numbers will increase not decrease. They are all potential ‘Kallathonis’ who want to escape the Caste tag. So let us take the problem to the Source, i.e. Tamil Nadu.
Neither the 13-A or Mr Wigneswaran’s Self Determination tag will solve the problems of the Tamil people bound by caste.
Sri Lanka, in order to survive, will have to stop all ‘Kallathoni’ activity. Sri Lanka is NOT the solution for the Caste bound problems of Tamil Nadu. These problems will have to be addressed in Tamil Nadu itself, through the 4 Yogas of Hinduism, Raj Yoga especially. There are Gurus in India who teach Raj Yoga. That will set Tamil Nadu society free of caste problems. We say this with good intent for Tamil Nadu. Rise, Tamil Nadu, out of the past morass of problems into the Light !
The Labor Problem in Sri Lanka will have to be addressed separately. Modernisation & Mechanisation of Labor, particularly for the plantations sector has to happen. Then the existing labor in Sri Lanka will be appeased. America has given a Million $ to study the Labor Problem of Lanka.
July 24th, 2013 at 6:06 am
Fran,
“but the 1983 Riots WEAKENED Sri Lanka GOVT.. (JRJ govt.) and the 13-A HAD to be accepted via India.”
NO.
It actually STRENGTHENED the bargaining position of the JR govt. against Endia because the WEST supported him REGARDLESS of the riot!! That sent out a VERY POWERFUL message to Endia. “Do whatever we will protect you.”
No war crimes. NO forced investigations. NOTHING AT ALL.
Actually US army came to help SL after 1983!
Japan gave us BILLIONS after 1983 NOT to rehabilitate Tamils but to develop Buddhist areas.
Israel gave tremendous help to SL AFTER 1983.
UK gave us billions to build dams AFTER 1983.
Of course NO COUNTRY except Pakistan gave us FREE WEAPONS which is the normal practice. But many countries SOLD us weapons.
But 1983 events WEAKENED SL’s position DECADES LATER. I agree. That was because of GEOPOLITICS when SL became an Endian dictated colony AFTER 1987.
13 amendment was pushed only AFTER we were at the verge of WIPING OUT Tamil tigers in Operation Liberation. If not for the operation Endia would NOT have interfered. But the operation was the right thing to do. Only problem was we didn’t know how much Endia LOVED the LTTE. JR must have been prepared. With a massive war in Afghanistan the world forgot SL. The US + China camp at that time failed Pakistan too in 1971. So what hope for SL?
6 years before the 1983 riot, there was rioting in Jaffna against the Sinhalese. ALL the Sinhalese were chased away from Jaffna FOREVER by Tamil civilians, Anandasangaree’s TULF voters (not by the LTTE). After 1983 they NEVER attempted such nonsense. Why? I don’t know.
1983 is a HUGE black mark on SL. Agree.
1983 should NOT have happened. Agree.
1983 demonized the Sinhalese. Agree.
1983 was bad. Agree.
But we should NOT shut out the FACT that few STRANGE UNINTENDED good it did to SL. 1983 riot was done by Tamils to go to Canada. If not for 1983 they could have done it in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988,….., 2013 anyway.
The 2004 tsunami was the WORST DISASTER to strike SL until then. It killed 60,000+ people including the unaccounted in Vanni. Such a bad thing. But it had UNINTEDED good. Tamils died most and it weakened the LTTE. Bunkers were destroyed. LTTE sea tiger ports were all destroyed. When SL BLOCKED aid to Tamil civilians in LTTE controlled areas it sealed the fate of the LTTE as people started to lose hope. True LTTE would have got 90% of the aid but at least 10% would have gone to the civilians. Even the 90% LTTE robbed would have gone to Tamil war widow families. All that was BLOCKED by us forcing misery on a population that lost faith in their “sole representative”.
2009 events killed MORE Tamils than 1983 riot. Unfortunately this is a fact.
JR must have STOPPED the 1983 riot and subsequent Tamil attempts to go to Canada which is ASTRONOMICALLY difficult because Tamils were determined to LEAVE SL to RICH countries as sympathy seekers. Instead he should have RETALIATED with targeted claymore attacks likewise on the other camp for killing 13 police officers (police are considered civilians).
July 24th, 2013 at 6:33 am
Lorenzo,
The 1983 Riot was STRANGE indeed ! NO HR violations levied against the then President etc. ! Good question to mull on. More people should think, write and talk about the 1983 Riots and the consequences for Lanka. This is the most important Lesson Learnt in the near history of Lanka.
Today, we have the same Tamils who fled as Refugees to the West plus their children, forming the so called Tamil Diaspora working against Sri Lanka, calling the same tune of Separatism now called Self Determination !
Why use Lanka to mask/hide Tamil Caste problems ? It will never be solved via Lanka. The problem must be addressed at the Source, Tamil Nadu.
The Tsunami was partly a blessing in disguise in that it cleansed the North of the ltte Sea Tigers and carried away some ltte VIPs.
July 24th, 2013 at 1:39 pm
Fran,
I think we should NOT talk about it at all but learn the lessons (BOTH WAYS) and move forward.
Actually the Tamil Diaspora is NOT CONCERNED of SL at all either way NOW. The steam has DIED DOWN now. MOSTLY RECENT immigrants are campaigning against SL NOW.
As time passes they FORGET SL which is very good. 1983 immigrant crowd is now OLD and DYING. In another 20 years they will be all dead.
Tamils leaving SL in such large numbers was the BEST thing ever happened to SL. It had short term bad impacts but MASSIVE LONG TERM GOOD impacts on SL. Tamil population percentage in SL ACTUALLY REDUCED by 1% or MORE. This is the REAL VICTORY of the whole episode. It will bring HUGE political and economic benefits to SL EVERY DAY in future.
Tamils CANNOT change the foreign policy of any country other than Endia.
Canada, UK, USA, Australia support (and oppose) Tamil terrorists because of GEOPOLITICS, not votes.
All of them didn’t oppose SL after 1983!! They stood by SL throughout 1983 with only sham statements against SL.
1983 has been blown out of proportion for sympathy.
2009 has been blown out EVEN BIGGER for the same reason.
The Tamil point of view on 1983 and the SL point of view can NEVER be reconciled.
July 24th, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Absence of war creates BIGGER threats to SL than war.
Now Tamil population is growing like ameba. Tamils are taking over GOOD SCHOOLS in Colombo, businesses, the ENTIRE northern province governance, etc. They displace Sinhalese from Colombo, etc. and other PRIME REAL ESTATE while supporting the Tamil Elam cause.
Tamil population percentage will NOT reduce from 2011 to 2021 which is a huge DEFEAT for SL in the long run.
That INCREASES TNA’s clout and strengthens the Tamil Elam cause. It affects presidential elections ADVERSELY as they vote for the ANTI-SL candidate.
In another 100 years history will forget 1983 but will PRAISE the TEMPORARY Tamil population percentage reduction from 1981 to 2012. No matter how cruel it was it SAVED SL from a demographic onslaught.
Now Tamils in SL want Tamil Elam as they have everything else. If they can’t get it, they want to LEAVE SL in large numbers!!
You know what that means!!!
Arranging them a peaceful EXIT is HIGHLY BENEFICIAL to SL.
July 24th, 2013 at 1:59 pm
Lorenzo,
I am sorry but I simply cannot agree that the Tamil so called ‘refugee’ migrants to the west was the ‘best thing for Sri Lanka’. Loss of Goodwill is a bad loss. The events of 1983 Riots that brought loss of Goodwill though mostly sham/set up jobs, with a few miscreants participating, it enables the Tamil Diaspora to mould and fold opinion abroad. It holds GoSLs present and future to ransom by India & the IC. The lies, cheat & deceit are going to go on well into the future primarily because the Caste/poverty issues of Tamil Nadu have not been properly resolved.
During our travels abroad over many years I have witnessed many incidents which prove my point, too long to list here.
July 24th, 2013 at 6:08 pm
P.S.: Tamils of Sri Lanka should be allowed to go back to Tamil Nadu, if they wish to leave Sri Lanka.
July 24th, 2013 at 7:22 pm
Fran,
In 1981 Tamil population percentage was 18.22%.
In 2011 it was 15.37%.
A reduction of 2.85%.
This was HIGHLY beneficial to SL and will be in future.
1. MR won the 2005 presidential election thanks to this because his victory margin (0.3%?) was MUCH LESS than this. Otherwise we could NEVER have won the war.
2. TNA will have a maximum of only 11 seats as opposed to 14 now if they win the same percentage of votes in 2016. Due to the population REDUCTION in Jaffna (migrated to Canada, etc.) the seats in Jaffna was reduced which is VERY good for the country.
3. Vigneswaran the new Velupillai can have a maximum support base of 15.37% today. IF not for the migration it would be 18.22% (20% HIGHER support!!!)
4. A reduction of 1,000,000 people helped ease the BURDEN on the health system, roads, schools, universities, jobs. These were the PRIMARY TRIGGERS of revolution in SL!!
Just imagine another 1,000,000 people in SL? Where are the houses, jobs, schools, hospitals, water, food, etc. for them? Besides they are ungrateful hook worms anyway.
Tamil Diaspora nonsense is TEMPORARY. We have granduncles who migrated to UK in the 1950s. Their grandchildren don’t even know Tamil!
Just because Tamils create anti-SL nonsense abroad doesn’t mean we have to put up with them in SL. That is worse.
It is like going to the loo. It has to be defecated out and it STINKS. But fearing the stink we cannot keep it in the bowels!!! The stink may hang around after flushing too but then will slowly disappear.
Tamils in SL are FREE to go to TN even now. But they don’t want to go. Who wants to go to TN where the living conditions are worse? Now TN kallathonis reconsider coming to SL. Many of them now want to go to Canada, Australia, etc. NOT to SL because they see the luxury living of SL Tamils. That saved SL millions of more kallathonis.
The 1983 events, genocide stories, sexual offence stories, etc. have TERRORISED TN people and they are very reluctant to come to SL. The number of kallathonis today is NOTHING compared to what that number would be had these NASTY things not happened.
The biggest thing is SL CANNOT and COULD NOT stop Tamils from rioting. They wanted to go to Canada and they CREATED a situation to go. There is nothing SL could have done to stop that STRONG urge. Let them go! MOST Tamils have NO LOVE for SL so PLEASE don’t hold them back or prevent their move. ANYTHING that sends them OUT is good for them and SL.
July 24th, 2013 at 8:01 pm
“it enables the Tamil Diaspora to mould and fold opinion abroad. It holds GoSLs present and future to ransom by India & the IC.”
This is not entirely true.
4 Tamil organisations are BANNED in 30+ countries. They cannot mould the opinion. IF they could they would have got the ban lifted.
In 1983 or after these countries did NOTHING against SL despite the horror.
Endia raised Tamil terrorists BEFORE 1983.
The international community is ANTI-SL for geopolitical reasons and the human rights/Tamil grievances are ONLY an EXCUSE. IF not for this excuse they would find another excuse – string of pearls, Islamic militants, China, cocaine, etc. If they were really concerned why NOT in 1983?
2009 is a BIGGER selling point than 1983. From 1983 to 2009 horrible human rigths abuses took place mostly by the LTTE. Why NOT the IC make any fuss? Because 1983 is UNIMPORTANT for them and didn’t create any trigger. It was 2009 that triggered all.
IF the Tamil Diaspora was small, lets say 150,000 would that change anything in the IC? NO.
TN and Endia will anyway go mad when we got rid of the LTTE in 2009 and pushed their new friends USA and EU to punish SL.
Cold War is NOT over. Endia only changed her partner.
July 25th, 2013 at 5:59 am
Lorenzo,
I agree with you that the Cold War aftermath continues.
* However, this part : “Actually the Tamil Diaspora is NOT CONCERNED of SL at all either way NOW. The steam has DIED DOWN now. MOSTLY RECENT immigrants are campaigning against SL NOW ” is not correct.
The Tamil Diaspora is quiet at present because of the forthcoming PC elections in the North – no other reason. Like good little soldiers they obey the high command of the TNA etc to ‘keep quiet’ and appear to be law abiding citizens for the time being. No one is fooled by that. They all act together (at least most of them), when the time is ripe for noise making abroad. This pattern has gone since 1983 – why stop now ? They are also rather taken aback by Australian PM Kevin Rudd withdrawing landing facilities for any boat refugees. Obviously, now that Canada is saturated, Australia had been earlier earmarked for bogus refugee claims.
* Also, that 4 Tamil organisations are banned in 30 + countries does not mean much. When the time is right, they just give their organisations another name/front and continue. It only means that Tamil people have managed to find new homes in 30 + countries.
* Also, re the population figures for Tamils in Lanka : There are hidden factors which hide the real numbers. Conversions to Islam is one, where Tamils do not get counted as Tamils but as Muslims.
The other is unregistered Tamil illegal migrants. They have not been accounted for. Generally speaking, the Tamil numbers have remained constant, even though about a Million (or even more) Tamils have left Sri Lanka after the 1983 Riots.
————
What we say is : If Tamil folk want to leave Tamil Nadu for whatever reasons, do so direct from there. Do not depend on
coming to Sri Lanka first and USE Lanka for a while and then scoot off as bogus refugees to other countries. From outside, they vilify Sri Lanka with false lies, cheat & deceit in order to make out a case to stay on with the new host countries. Is this fair by Sri Lanka ? Is this not loss of Goodwill for Sri Lanka all over the world ? Doesn’t it appear to be a senseless exercise for Sri Lanka to help Tamil folk ?
It is time to STOP making Sri Lanka the ‘fall guy’ for problems of Tamils of Tamil Nadu.
We know that the caste/poverty problems of Tamil Nadu Tamils are making them seek new countries, but why not make life nicer for all Tamils in Tamil Nadu itself as an answer to the problem ? Building of proper toilet facilities there would be a good start. Create a caste free area called Tamil Eelam in the beautiful Nilgiri Mountains. These would be positive and proactive actions by TN leaders to show real leadership & ownership re the problems of their Tamil population.
July 25th, 2013 at 1:56 pm
Fran,
“coming to Sri Lanka first and USE Lanka for a while and then scoot off as bogus refugees to other countries.”
This is exactly what they do!
UNINTENTIONALLY July 1983 HELPED SL in this regard. If not for 1983, 1.1 million + another million at least would be in SL. The chart someone produced shows MASSIVE Tamil population growth until 1981 (1989 was an estimate). It would have continued at that MASSIVE percentage rise. But thankfully it didn’t.
As for Tamil population reduction in SL from 1981 to 2012 it is a FACT. We cannot challenge this FACT.
Tamil Diaspora
I disagree. Tamil Diaspora participation has been going DOWN and DOWN.
e.g. Vadakundi re-affirmation held in 2010 had MASSIVE participation. Then Tamil Elam referendum smaller participation in 2011. Rallies nowadays are even smaller and counterproductive.
I’m a Tamil and part of the Diaspora and I know how the engine is LOSING steam with TIME. Tamils who came in 1983 have mostly given up on SL.
MOST frontline Tamil propaganda junk are actually HIGHLY EDUCATED people who LEGALLY MIGRATED to UK, Australia, Canada, etc. 1983 didn’t help them migrate.
The 4 Tamil groups banned was VERY GOOD for SL. That stopped them raising more money. If LTTE was not banned they could have got those terrible missiles in Canada. FBI stopped it in time.
July 28th, 2013 at 4:28 pm
MOST
* top jobs
* top schools
* businesses
* new business opportunities
* high education institutes
* VALUABLE real estates
* VALUABLE investments
* luxurious living in the island
* comforts
are in Colombo.
IF NOT for 1983 Tamils would have TOTALLY GRABBED all these leaving NOTHING for Sinhalese.
Especially in those early decade of the OPEN ECONOMY!!
That would have triggered a SUPER MASSIVE kallathoni migration seeing how theit relatives are haveing the BEST OF EVERYTHING in the BEST PLACE to live in the island.
This would have been a TOTAL DISASTER for the Sinhalese with
NO
* top jobs
* top schools
* businesses
* new business opportunities
* high education institutes
* VALUABLE real estates
* VALUABLE investments
* luxurious living in the island
* comforts.
1983 may be BAD BAD BAD! but if not for 1983 it would have been MUCH WORSE for everyone.
The bad news is Tamils are grabbing all those things now!!
July 28th, 2013 at 4:30 pm
Peace with Tamil nationalists is a bigger disaster than war!
July 28th, 2013 at 4:47 pm
There were many good Sinhala entrepreneurs whose success was accelerated by 1983 lessons to Tamils. They were able to buy Colombo land at cheaper prices that time.
July 28th, 2013 at 7:13 pm
SG,
True to some extent but the ARAB community was the biggest winners.
They quickly grabbed any land FREE OF CHARGE that was not occupied 10 days after the incident. MH Mohammad was RUMOURED to be involved but I don’t know. May the readers decide! :))
Check the census data 1981, 2001 and 2012 for Colombo city. In 1981 they were SMALL in percentage. But now they are the HIGHEST!! How come? 1983.
Alternatively check the names of Colombo MAYORS before 1983 and after 1983. You will see.
BEFORE 1983
SWORD Banda
Premathasa
Saravanamuttal
AFTER 1983
e.g. MH Mohammed
e.g. Omar Quamill
e.g. Nakeeb
e.g. Muzammill
July 28th, 2013 at 7:14 pm
The ARAB community was the biggest winners in getting the LAND benefit.
July 28th, 2013 at 7:25 pm
You are right. Sinhala benefactors are very few.
Not only that, University positions alarmingly going towards the Arabs ( as they like to call themselves now ).
In my time, there were only 5-7 out of 150 Eng students – they too are Muslims ( not Islamaniacs).
Now more than 15%, may be 20%. Same with medicine, law etc. This started growing since 1983 , hyperbolically.
This growth was supported aggressively by Muslims converted to Islam and starting Kudu business connected through Afghanistan.