Would a unified Tamil political movement be a double edged sword?
By Raj Gonsalkorale
Minister Douglas Devananda has called for all Tamil political parties in Sri Lanka to unite, possibly into a Tamil political umbrella group.
If this were to happen, it would have many negative implications to the unity of Sri Lanka, and finding a solution to the political problem that has bedeviled Sri Lanka for decades.
Firstly, formation of such a group would reinforce a Tamil view that they are firstly Tamils, and only secondly, Sri Lankans.
Secondly, based on such a view, an enhanced bargaining power of such a collective “Tamil” view could undermine the efforts of moderates on both sides who are advocating the view that we are all Sri Lankans first and either Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims second.
Thirdly, a Tamil political collective could strengthen the hand of Sinhala nationalists and the two communities could resume their cold war, possibly even leading to a more open confrontation, initially politically, and then God forbid, even militarily or through terrorist activity.
While Sinhala politicians are not free of blame for their positions in past years that led to the radicalization of the Tamil political movement, and the birth and growth of the LTTE, Tamil politicians cannot absolve themselves from blame as their insistence during every past effort to find a political solution being based on communal positions led to the radicalization of the Sinhala political view.
History is bound to repeat itself if Tamils continue to see themselves only as Tamils. The political tight rope balancing being done by the current administration will be undermined and they will not be able to prevent a resurgence of Sinhala nationalism, even possibly in starker stridency than before considering that the administration is regarded even now as more Sinhala nationalistic than the Opposition UNP.
What Minister Devananda should be doing is to advocate the mainstream political parties, especially the UPFA to which he belongs, and the UNP, to encourage more and more Tamil membership, and if required, make it even a party constitutional requirement that a minimum number of Parliamentary seats should be reserved for Tamils and Muslims.
Mainstreaming the Tamil political movement, rather than segregating them into an us vs. them mentality, will advance a political solution and unity within Sri Lanka, not the reverse of such a situation.
It is unfortunate that the TNA is an impotent political movement as they are shackled to the LTTE, the radical elements within the Diaspora, and unable to think afresh and come up with any new ideas. It is particularly unfortunate as it is the TNA and not minister Devananda’s party that commands more votes amongst the Tamils.
Perhaps Mr Devananda is trying to win more Tamil votes by advocating an umbrella group. He is however the lesser power in the equation and it is unlikely that the TNA will accede to his suggestion as they would have nothing to gain by letting Mr Devananda benefit from such an initiative.
The TNA status quo will therefore continue and they will be wined and dined in various world capitals as the representatives of the Tamil voice in Sri Lanka. A very unfortunate situation as they have nothing to offer the very people they claim they represent.
The country is yet to see the emergence of a Tamil politician with a vision for the future. A Tamil politician who will say enough is enough and that all Tamils should support a unitary State, and argue for safeguards against any form of extremism or discrimination based on race or religion, caste or whatever.
We are yet to see a Tamil politician arguing for a second chamber where power could be shared at central level demonstrating their willingness to be part of a unitary Sri Lanka.
We are yet to see a Tamil politician who has had the guts to stand up and say he/she is a Sri Lankan first and secondly a Tamil. Instead we have people who continue to argue for segregation with an eye firmly set on Federalism and even separatism.
Whatever the plight of some of the war affected Tamils in the North and East, it cannot be addressed through such policies. It will only exacerbate their plight. The TNA of course would love to benefit from the plight of such hapless people as their currency to stay in power is the misery of the very people they claim to represent.
It would not be out of place to liken those who wish to benefit from someone else’s misery to vultures that are looking for carcasses.
- Asian Tribune -
Comments
TRIBESMEN AND STATESMEN I
TRIBESMEN AND STATESMEN
I hope that Raj would not be upset if I were to add two words to his key sentence and rephrase as: "The country is yet to see the emergence of a Tamil politician with a truly egalitarian vision for the future." Assuming the slight modification, the meaning holds also true if the word “Tamil” is replaced by “Sinhalese”. Or for that matter if its substituted with “Muslim”, “Malay”, “Buddhist”, “Christian”, “Catholic”, “Hindu”, “Burger” or “Sri Lankan”; the end-result is the same – and is at the core of the island’s on-going pathetic condition.
As long as the nation’s leaders – irrespective of their own ethno-religious backgrounds – continue to think like tribesmen instead of like statesmen, the tribal conflicts will never end. The impasse can only be overcome through the emergence of selfless and visionary leaders who respect all individual citizens as complete equals – i.e. leaders with genuinely secular views. But the sad truth is, there have been no such leaders in the past, there are no such leaders at present – and given the narrow mind-sets of the large majority of the populace the emergence of such a leader is at least two generations away.
RajG brings up some important
RajG brings up some important points regarding the consequences of Minister Devananda's call for unification of the Tamil parties. Although, if past political behavior is any indication, the likelihood of it coming to pass, or even if it does, such unification lasting long enough to be of any significance is very doubtful. The "Cadjan Fence" mentality still lingers in the Tamil community, and even as they work at becoming one with one another of their own community, they have to demonstrate the emergence of leaders who can think outside their traditional box. As far as this reader can see, they are all stuck in the grooves of "Federalism" or "Devolution", with no emergence of new thinking that can gain ground as a viable solution.
In the pervasive sense of superiority and separateness that is still not recognized by a nascent Tamil leader as the reason for this Minority community's downfall from its early respected position, there is no room for anything that resembles a secular mindset.
Thus, a solution that involves power sharing at the Center has no place and seems clearly ahead of its time.
Clearly, Raj G overlooks that
Clearly, Raj G overlooks that Minister Devananda's move is very likely predicated by the continued foot-dragging of the Rajapakse Administration. Prez Rajapakse has been stating since the beginning of his first term that a solution is around the corner and now he is well into his second term with no visible progress.
AND AS RAJ G HIMSELF IMPLIES, A STALEMATE COULD VERY WELL LEAD TO THE RE-BIRTH OF TERRORISM. AND THE QUESTION MANY SEEM TO BE IGNORING IS WHETHER THE RAJAPAKSE ADMINISTRATION'S SHOCKING LACK OF PROGRESS IS IN SOME WAY CONNECTED TO SINHALA TIGERS HAVING INFILTRATED THE ADMINISTRATION. BECAUSE THE RAJAPAKSE ADMINISTRATION'S FOOT-DRAGGING IS ONLY HELPING LTTE SYMPATHIZERS AND MAKING IT EASIER FOR THE RE-BIRTH OF SENSELESS TERRORISM.
First of all,(on one of Raj G's points), in a democrratic country, political parties are free to form alliances in order to boost their political and negotiating power. AND PREZ RAJAPAKSE'S GOVT ITSELF IS NOT AN SLFP GOVERNMENT BUT A GROUP FORMING THE UNITED PEOPLE'S FREEDOM ALLIANCE.(And Raj G is surely aware that in Australia, also, forming political alliances with other parties is common in order to boost their negotiating power and also maintain a sufficient majority.)
And Rag G's argument suggests that other groups, for example the Muslims, cannot, or should not, form a single party to represent the Muslims. Like it or not, this is how democracy works.
Raj G also overlooks that it was because the Tamils considered themselves Ceylonese first that they agreed to a gentlemen's agreement (a mere gentlemen's agreement with no written guarantee), just before Independence. The Tamil poloticians at that time agreed with the Southern politicians of that time that this matter could be resolved after Independence because otherwise Independence would be delayed. THE TAMIL POLITICIANS OF THAT TIME MADE A HUGE BLUNDER IN TRUSTING THE SOUTHERN POLITICIANS WHO BEGAN SHOWING THEIR TRUE COLOURS SOON AFTER THE BRITISH LEFT.
Raj G also makes the nonsensical argument that unifying the Tamil groups would sidline the moderate Tamils. I am a moderate Tamil and unless Prez Rajapakse makes genuine progress I myself would WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree on the need for a unified front to overcome Pres Rajapakse's intransigence.
And we should not overlook that this type of intransigence is what gave rise to terrorism. Confronted with the intransigence of the Southern politicians, the Tamil parties joined to form the Tamil United Liberation Front. The TULF'S inability to knock sense into the Southern politicians directly led to the Vaddukoddai Resolution and then soon after the birth of senseless terrorism.
DO WE WANT THIS SENSELESS CYCLE REPEATED ALL OVER AGAIN? THE ANSWER TO THIS LIES WITH HOW PREZ RAJAPAKSE PROCEEDS.
Sri Lanka is a democratic
Sri Lanka is a democratic country. Democracy means majority gains power to govern. Under a democratic system, Tamils cannot become a majority by hanging on to their ethnicity. If they need to enjoy political power at the highest levels, it is time they abondon the ethnically based Tamil parties and join mainstream political parties.
Fortunately, the two major political parties SLFP and UNP are both open to all ethnic groups in the country. Tamils are welcome to join them and show their ability to serve the nation to win the hearts of the members and citizens and they will easily achieve their political goals.
While I agree that many of the leading Tamils living at the time of Independence considered themselves as Sri Lankans first, they failed to join hands with others in one party to gain political power. Unfortunately, they were still looking to share political power based on ethnicity. I do not wish to blame those Tamil gentlemen because that was the flavour of the day at that time. World has changed since then. Team work is needed today more than ever.
The opportunity is always open for some of the leading Tamils to join mainstream political parties and abondon the ethnic rivalry. It is to the credit of majority ethnic Sinhalese that they stayed away from Sinhalese only political parties. Similarly parties like CWC must be praised for their stand to work for the upliftment of their voter-base without causing ethnic rivalry.
It is in the best interest of all communities living in Sri Lanka, if some more of the leading Tamil political figures, similar to Mr. Devananada, join the mainstream political parties.
I share some of the view expressed by the writer Raj G.
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