Signs, Symbols And Arguments
By Chandi Sinnathurai
09 July, 2009
Countercurrents.org
The Tamil struggle for freedom, equality, dignified and decent living is not something that requires re-kindling. The agonising voice of the Tamils in IDP camps is a living witness of suffering. Some one in Sri Lanka who had been working with the suffering people said over a telephone conversation to me that there are those who have lost limbs and arms were pleading passers by to scratch their bodies. Many have heat pimples and mosquito bites.
These are open signs of suffering. However, there are much deeper signs of psychological trauma and stress related disorders. Many have been eye witnesses to gruesome cold blooded killings. They have been held up between the Armed forces and the Tigers. No one wanted to tell the truth on behalf of the innocent people. These people will carry emotional scars for the rest of their lives. There are thousands of children, young teens who have witnessed the gruesome side of war. Tragically, all these innocent people were indispensable.
Truth in the fog of war comes with many a spin. When one speaks of deepest convictions, one has to be doubly sure, one's convictions are under girded by truth that sits comfortable with your conscience. Often, in the midst of war and struggle, truth and conscience, dies a thousand deaths. Propaganda takes the hallowed place of truth.
There is something called the social truth. People who have stood and witnessed the events of war know what really took place - and it is these poor and vulnerable people -- it is in their midst truth can be located. They may be too weak to protest. But truth suffers in silence among them while noises are heard, symbols are raised, and arguments are polished elsewhere. All these are, no doubt, done for public consumption.
The West wanted an end to the Tamil Tigers. And they saw to it that it came to pass. The truth of the matter is the West was concerned about the undemocratic way in which the tigers were operating and they wondered what sort of governance Tamil Eelam would have. No amount of lobbying, nor any convincing arguments worked. They saw the hubris of the belief in the invincibility of the tigers. Even though, reportedly, in the final moments, Erik Solheim and other Western foreign ministers have tried to save the neck of the tiger leadership. It was too late for any guarantees.
Now the West is talking about war crimes in Sri Lanka. But that is only after wiping out the Tamil resistance. What the West is now concerned about is the involvement of two emerging super powers in Sri Lanka. Let's not get over excited and mis-read the signs or misinterpret the context. The US don't have any appetite to entertain the trans-national government concept. As for a government in exile we need a host country. That is a waste of time.
As for the Diaspora forming a 'democratic' leadership on behalf of the homeland Tamils has many undemocratic pit falls. If this is a lobbying group that is fine. But is the trans-national government a front or a "glorified talk shop" is a question that begs an answer.
Is the Tamil national question no longer a national issue? Who would the trans-national government govern? Will their governance extend to the Sri Lankan Tamils including the refugees in Tamil Nadu? (However, the Lankan Tamils are already under the governance of Colombo.
As democracy would demand, the Tamils in Sri Lanka must be given their fundamental right to choose their leaders. That is their liberty. None should try and hijack that - even with convincing high sounding ideals.
Of course, liberation is a people's struggle. Fish without water is good for a broil. People's struggle has clear markers, milestones, stages and above all credible leaders of integrity and clarity. People will see the 'cloud of unknowing' when they can feel the tug of puppet strings.
The struggle is in the body politic. Spirit-filled by the suffering people in the homelands. Without the spirit the body is dead. It is the people, Eelam Makkal, who have the bleeding wounds and scars.
The Diaspora must know its limits.
