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The Jaffna I knew by R. Sundralingam: Insightful Tips for Sustainable Peace Building

Dilrook Kannangara

Thank you DIG (retired) R Sundaralingam for a detailed article on Jaffna which is the crown of Sri Lanka. Having had many years of experience in the police service and in Interpol as a specialist in narcotics, it is no surprise that security and drug matters caught his attention. Rejuvenating that peace, harmony, coexistence and brotherhood is the wish of every Sri Lankan especially today when a nation is exhausted of fighting a bloody senseless war for over three decades.

The Northern Province, as detailed in the article, was indeed the most peaceful province in the country even by 1976. However, beneath that innocence the infrastructure that nurtured the LTTE was growing stronger and stronger. Nobody would have thought how easy it is to manipulate this infrastructure in favour of a rebel group that would consequently graduate into the most ruthless terrorist group in the world. Many are of the view that this problem could have been nipped in the bud in the 1970s and early 1980s. However, such a move would never have worked without tackling the supportive infrastructure that became the backbone of the LTTE. Violence spiralled unchecked as violence was handled with further violence not following an objective way of defusing mistrust, anger and rebellion. This engulfed the population and especially the Tamil population found harder to free themselves from all round violence.

While enjoying the good memories that were resurrected in the article, it is important to look at the innocence that was exploited later by the LTTE. After all only sticking points demand resolution, not things that everybody can agree on.

Each element of the infrastructure that later supported the LTTE need to be carefully looked at.

Race-based political parties

It is a great misfortune that North-Eastern politics was hijacked by race-based and race-centred political parties from the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) to Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (Lanka Tamil State Party aka Federal Party) from the 1940s to 1970s. They demanded, agitated, protested and even created violence demanding racial demands over the years. They deliberately shut themselves from looking at the other communities, their problems, fairness to them and their side of the story. Above all they created a “we-they” division along racial lines.

This was in stark contrast to other political parties in the south that were divided along the UNP and the SLFP. Southern elections were more violent and supporters of these two parties openly clashed. However, their differences confined to the election time and no further divisions were made vis-à-vis the Sinhala-Tamil-Muslim division created by race-based political parties. National political parties were better able to understand concerns of all communities but race-based political parties had no regard whatsoever for the concerns of other communities.

The political marriage between the UNP and the ITAK and ACTC was a good move but it was a flop from the start because it was trying to seek unity through division. It cemented the “we-Tamils-you-Sinhalese” and “you-Sinhalese-we-Tamils” concepts. This is the division that crept into politics in the 1940s and culminated in 1965. Instead an “us” approach would have taken by these political groups like in other countries especially in the United States of America.

As a result when the political marriage fell out which is very common in all political marriages, the fall out was along racial lines! Had they taken the “us” approach, the fall out would only have been political.

Lack of development orientation of Race-based political parties

Race-based political parties were never interested in development even in their own areas. Major development work in the north and the east was carried out by national political parties sometimes amidst stiff resistance from race-based regional parties. Lack of development and the lack of development focus of regional political parties became a key stepping stone for the LTTE. It helped the rebels amass a huge public support. Lack of development leading to rebellion was not something confined to the north-east it even extended to the south.

It is very unfortunate that even today race-based political parties show no regard to development work even if it means development of their own electorates!

Instead they demand that the government empower them to carryout the type of development they need. This is a ludicrous demand firstly because regional development must follow a national development plan and secondly they have never shown any desire for development work. People in the north-east cannot wait till politicians come up with a political solution to commence developing their areas.

Eradication of caste discrimination

The government went hard on caste discrimination in the north. No doubt establishing equity in the society is a good thing, but, at the same time measures should have been taken to defuse dissent among the ‘upper class’ that was furious over this. They aggressively sought new means of enforcing their domination over the others. What would happen if south Indian state governments try to abolish caste discrimination even in the 21st century? It will possibly lead to severe unrest and havoc. Even the British allowed caste discrimination in the north to a considerable extent. For instance, the British allowed ‘low caste’ children to sit on the floor or sit outside the classroom for a very long time. They never attempted to change this. This doesn’t mean the caste discrimination should have continued; on the contrary it should have been abolished but with some consideration for the fallout as well even though it was the right thing to do. What governs democracies is the popular phenomenon, not necessarily the right one. Therefore a method to ‘console’ and explain it to the ‘upper class’ should have happened.

The caste discrimination didn’t fully die down as a result. The resentment of the ‘upper class’ found a new outlet in the conflict. Today it is mainly ‘lower caste’ Tamils and their children are dying fighting for ‘upper class’ Tamils. While most upper class Tamils have migrated to rich countries, most lower caste families couldn’t do so as they were marginalised for centuries from accessing education and other facilities. The complete disregard of the lives of ‘lower caste’ Tamils is ruthlessly displayed in the way LTTE conducts itself. Even today almost all Tamil race-based political parties have ‘upper caste’ Tamils only!

Standardisation

Like eradication of caste discrimination, standardisation was another equitable move. Every child should have equitable opportunity to go to university where opportunities are very limited. An equitable basis for all districts is the right thing to do. However, like the eradication of the caste system, this too created fallout. The reduction suffered by the Jaffna district was more than compensated by the increase in Batticaloa, Mulaitivu, Kilinochchi (this district was a later creation), Mannar, Vavyniya, Trincomalee and Ampara districts.

If anyone gives standardisation as an excuse to cause trouble, he must be handled by the military. However, a more relevant method of standardisation should be devised that takes into account actual population numbers than rely on old and outdated numbers. Also alternative study arrangements like private universities must be allowed.

Today, Jaffna district is unfairly advantaged in university admissions as the department of examinations uses very old outdated population, etc. data. This must be corrected as soon as possible otherwise students in other districts are very badly and unjustifiably affected. Moreover given the higher volume of brain drain in Jaffna educated individuals, the country loses enormously by unfairly favouring them. This is ridiculous and must be redressed notwithstanding threats.

A good way out would be to base the allocation ratios on the number of students sitting the Advanced Level exam for the first time in each stream in each district in lieu of population based data. This will ensure an equitable and fair allocation for all districts.

Peasants of all races

Jaffna peasants had work hard, but, peasants of the other areas have also worked hard. There are many other places in Sri Lanka where climatic and soil conditions are similar to Jaffna and an overall program of appreciation, upliftment and expansion devoid of race is needed badly. It is no secret that this segment of the population was continuously neglected and exploited. While the sons and daughters of southern peasants were attracted by the JVP, their northern counterparts were attracted by the LTTE. Since the JVP and the LTTE had no concern whatsoever about solving the problems of these young people, their efforts went into stuff rebellions that further destroyed the future of the youth.

The irony of the situation was so comical that the LTTE attacked poor Sinhala and Muslim farmers especially in the East not to mention what they did to the largest commodity market at the time which was Kilinochchi that affected Tamil famers!

Both the JVP and the LTTE knew that by using the sons and daughters of peasants they could destroy the livelihoods of peasants so that more and more young people will be in dire straits and can be recruited by them.

Unfortunately the problem was looked at from the race perspective and as a result remains unsolved to a great extent even today. The colonisation projects collapsed and the Mahaweli project also suffered thanks to racism.

Smuggling drugs, people and violating the Lankan territorial boundaries at will

The above article referred to how Tamil youth innocently travelled to Tamil Nadu by boat to catch a glimpse of the latest movie. Adventurous as it sounds it has a very dangerous aspect. This is what led to create the backbone of the LTTE which includes arms smuggling, human smuggling, escape into Tamil Nadu, drug trafficking and Sea Tigers.

Drug trafficking, according to the above article, has been happening decades before the LTTE came into being.

Violating the Lankan territory at will and drug trafficking provided the ideal breeding ground for the LTTE as it brought virtually everything it needed to survive, grow and prosper.

Curbing these decisively would have been very unpopular choices for the then governments but it should have been done for the sake of national security. Whole Sri Lanka pays for these lapses today. Once law and order is established in the north, the government should launch a series of security measures to fully enforce Lankan maritime boundaries with proper concurrence with the Indian Coast Guard.

Peace when achieved can easily degenerate into chaos unless these issues are managed in favour of the nation. A school drop-out can kill a mayor and team up with a group of bandits who can have a fancy project that can fetch millions across the Palk Strait. They can easily exploit the weaknesses in the society to grow into a force to recon with. However, that doesn’t mean their demands should be entertained in anyway. If they can be wiped out, an environment for peace will dawn. However, their breeding grounds must be eliminated through an integrated politico-military process. Only then sustainable peace will reach the island nation, yet again. But this time it will be still different; different to the extent of not accommodating certain freedoms that go against national security.

There is no need to divide the country to unite it and no need to compromise its unitary status and territorial integrity for peace. The tiny island blessed with the world four major religions and amply complimented by their shrines will surely find peace within since peace is the customary way of life there.

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