War Of Words: Occupation v Liberation
By Chandi Sinnathurai
21 August, 2010
Countercurrents.org
The rhetoric of the Tamil diaspora is that in the North and East the Sri Lankan Armed forces are occupying Tamil territories. Hence, it is said, the Tamil population feel and see this as an act of occupation by force. If this is the case, the "Winning hearts and minds of the Tamils" campaign of the Sri Lankan state is at stake.
In the mean time, development is slowly beginning in these areas. People who have lived for the last three decades amidst the ruins of war, lacking in economic opportunities must see this as something positive. But is it development saddled with the heavy cost to the liberty of Tamils? This question lingers in the minds of the people.
On the other hand, the President's brother Gotabaya Rajapaksha who heads up the defense establishment has testified before the Reconciliation Commission a few days ago. The Defense Secretary Gota Rajapaksha said that it is necessary to keep the presence of the Government Forces in the former tiger territories. The state views this as a necessary precautionary measure, as well as protection to the civilian population against criminal elements.
Gota Rajapaksha has also assured the Commission that all the paramilitaries (EPDP, PLOTE etc) including the ex-tigers Karuna Amman and Pillayan factions were disarmed just few days after the war ended. Karuna is given a deputy minister post in the government, while Pillayan is the Chief minister of the East. (Both these men have been afforded a Presidential pardon in secret for their part in crimes against humanity.)
The Government sees all its war efforts in the east and north, as a humanitarian campaign. That is to say, "Liberating the Tamils from the clutches of the Tamil Tigers." However, within the backdrop of this war of words, diverse perceptions and interpretations of events, one can hear protestations of some Tamil quarters -- particularly in the diaspora. They are saying that the Tamils in these IDP Camps (some call it internment camps) have fallen from the frying pan to the fire. When they were trapped between the tigers and the Sri Lankan armed forces during heavy fighting, these innocent human beings were simply sitting ducks! Tragically, many thousands were maimed and lost their lives.
In this quagmire of words and multiple layers of meanings one can also hear in the diaspora the rhetoric of resistance. Some might elucidate this as resisting Sinhala subjugation. There is certainly no appetite among Tamils, in the post 9/11 world for armed resistance. Further more, armed resistance has yielded nothing tangible to show! There are others in the diaspora who might interpret this as resistance against Sinhala occupation of the Tamil lands as the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage. [http://www.cceia.org/resources/publications/dialogue/2_12/section_1/5139.html .]
Now in this regard the government has shown no appetite to listen to Tamils. But to be fair, there are yet to rise up strong representative voices that the Tamil citizens will feel comfortable with and rally around on their own volition.
The Tamil National Alliance is seen by both the diaspora as well as the Tamil citizens in the island as a bunch of comics. The so-called diaspora leaders have propped themselves as Tamil leaders and are currently simply caught up within themselves in a series of comedy of errors. Every one, including the man in government detention, "KP" is trying hard to be the king pin. All are dancing to their master's voices except failing to catch the mood and pulse of the Tamils in the island!
The situation doesn't demand the call for "Let my people go." Go! where? The reality demands: "Live and let live." Now this requires the strength of character, integrity, vision, sharpness of mind and accommodation in order to arrive at a negotiated settlement. This requires REAL leadership. The Tin Pan Alley gimmicks, rhymes and sound-bites may fail to endure the test of time. And the Tamils who are citizens of the country must have the liberty to speak their mind in all of this. It is within such people the leadership must arise from and derive its credibility. It is their destiny and their life that is at stake. Let not the state or the diaspora or any other force rob of these people the capacity to decide.
The problem is would President Rajapaksha see the need for negotiation and dialogue?
