What are Tamil grievances?

Sunil Vijayapala Oxley Australia

We constantly hear of Tamil grievances and most of us would be ignorant of the issues pertaining to this subject. Can the Editor of Lankaweb, through an Editorial, invite Tamils to write to Lankaweb on this important subject, as we presume Lankaweb is an appropriate forum to guide our Sri Lankan government at this crucial juncture, to hammer out a strategy to solve the so called ‘ethnic problem’. Instead of squabbling on views of various individuals, and be passionate about our own views and clinging on to them dearly, we should make this vital web tool to give a direction to the government and their think-tank. At present our house is on fire and our main priority is to put it out and later find out the causes.

Our inclination and passion is to criticise individuals and systems, however we should at the same time make sincere endeavors to put on the table some ideas and solutions. We observe some articles of value which are pretty focused on current issues. We may also, bring some enlightenment to readers now and then, as Charles has done touching on the wisdom of Buddhism, which might have the potential answer.

Could we begin a sincere dialogue on first dealing with the Ethnic problem, as this is the pressing issue and clearly bring out the grievances of Tamils, to justify self-governance, as most of us fail to understand what Tamil grievances are? With the Lankaweb Editor’s blessing, we should invite Tamils to put forward the problems confronting them in Sri Lanka, in Lankaweb, in plain English, in a civilized manner, refraining from criticizing governments or individuals. For example, assume Tamils have a grievance of usage of Tamil language in Tamil areas. As far as we know, Tamil language has been used in North and East for the last 4 decades in Courts, Government departments and no Sinhalese wouldn’t have survived in Tamil areas without the knowledge of Tamil(the period Sinhalese were living in North)

Do they have a problem with the usage of Tamil language in the South, and what problems do they confront in Education? Religious freedom could be an issue and representation at all levels of administration, judiciary and legislative bodies, is another. Participation of Tamils at electoral level and voicing on the governance of Sri Lanka, apart from ethnic issues, could be a hidden problem, we Sinhalese might be failing to observe.

Although our Australians friends, who are the bastions of equality and fair governance, there is no single representative of Aboriginal origin either in the Parliament or Senate! So much for their democracy and preaching and hypocrisy!

Postulating on grievances, one area Tamils are disadvantaged could be lack of job opportunities in the South, for especially graduates. On the other hand isn’t it time, Tamils in Jaffna and Batticalo, start their own enterprises with their own resources, to create jobs? It is undeniable that the Tamil culture and dowry system curtail the use of money in development and generating employment in North and East. Can a compulsory quota system be established in the South for minorities, when it comes to selection for jobs in the Private and State institutions?

Why do some Sinhalese have apprehensions of a Federal system in Sri Lanka, the same apprehensions JR had in late 50s? Do they think this is a ploy to eventuate in separation? True, the scenario and ground situation has changed dramatically in Sri Lanka, partially because of Tigers, yet could this be a plausible solution? Or could some one suggest and alternative, which will satisfy the aspirations of Tamils, Muslims, other minorities and Sinhalese, which could be forwarded to Mahinda and his team?

It’s high time we address these issues and invite readers to contribute invaluable ideas which might bring some solution to the ethnic problem, as this problem has dragged on for far too long draining vital resources, which could have gone into developing Sri Lanka.