Tamil Grievances vs. Tamil Aspirations

Shenali Waduge

The unprecedented hurry to implement proposals raises several questions & also questions whether those signatory to it actually comprehends the real status quo. The desire for peace should not blind our leaders to accepting any proposal despite pressures by the international community that will compromise on the nation’s territorial integrity.

In the haste to offer a solution the government should be steadfast in first demanding the Tamil representatives to clearly demarcate where if at all there is discrimination of the Tamil people by the Sinhalese. These we will term as grievances. The Tamil representatives including the LTTE should factually outline where their grievances are. Surely these can be rectified without having to offer a whole new devolution package? Sadly our leaders have not been effective enough to bluntly demand specifics about the “grievances” of the Tamil people. If this had been done the remedial action would have been forthcoming.

It should also be remembered that grievances are not limited to the Tamils alone. The Sinhalese, the Muslim and other denominations in Sri Lanka will also have their grievances. If there are no proper roads in the North, it is also the same in the South of Sri Lanka, if there are villages without electricity in the North, there are more villages in the South & East without electricity as well. If Tamil people in the North do not have proper sanitary facilities, health care, education etc… it is very much so if not more in the South and the East of Sri Lanka. There are many areas in Sri Lanka that needs attention; the Government must accept accountability for the slow progress of its development. But development obstacles are not based on ethnicity, but rather the poor administrative performances of those holding State portfolios.

Tamils today number only 12% of the total population of Sri Lanka. If more than half that number lives amongst the Sinhalese in the South of Sri Lanka that immediately quells any claim that there is any type of discrimination by the Sinhalese. Like all citizens of Sri Lanka, they are entitled to preliminary education, university education and some of the most prestigious jobs in the State and Private Sector are held by Tamils, not because they are Tamil but because of their skills, knowledge and qualifications. We have never had a period that Sri Lanka has treated the Tamils like the Blacks were treated in South Africa and America.

But, successive Governments need to be accountable for denying simple changes to administrative systems that suit the needs of the people. This is where any grievances will raise its head. We empathize with our Tamils friends who cannot read the Sinhalese State circulars – quite often these circulars are incomprehensible to the Sinhalese themselves. The documents are definitely not user friendly. There has also been a few points raised that the jobs to State institutes etc have not been proportionately distributed amongst the Tamils. The Government should address this issue and also ensure that Muslims are also taken into consideration. But appointments need to be on merit and that is most essential.

Aspirations are extremely vague – it will differ from person to person and a Government cannot venture to meet the aspirations of all its citizens. The aspiration for a Tamil homeland was first introduced by the TULF and turned into an obsessive dream for the LTTE leader. Aspiration soon turned despotic and today most Tamils live in fear of their lives both in the North and East. Those who are in foreign climes or living amongst the Sinhalese also live in fear and end up having to meet the demands of the LTTE kitty for the sake of survival and their inherent aspiration to live. Will these people ever want to live in such a “homeland”?

Thus, the international community while it may force restrictions upon a democratic Government to bring about a solution, it must equally match the move by identifying the LTTE as a terrorist outfit and ensure that all funding etc in their country ceases to exist. It is becoming increasingly amusing why foreign governments choose to punish a democratically elected Government while it stops short of applying international force to completely annihilate the terrorist element that prevails.

The decision on the North-East merger is extremely important. More power sharing to the Provincial Councils having cleared earmarked areas under Central Government rule would be a good start. A drastic reduction in the Cabinet portfolios of the Central Government representatives as well as proper delegation should be enforced.

However, what is most baffling is where the Sinhalese are discriminating the Tamil people that are being projected internationally. The public deserves a list by the Tamil representatives of where and which areas these grievances hold true. It is not too late for the Government to ask the Tamil representatives to clearly define with specifics where their grievances lie. This is the best opportunity to save the country without committing a nation to further complexities of disintegration. If there are grievances the Government should ensure that these grievances are duly dealt with.