Tamils Are A Vanishing Community
By Nilantha Ilangamuwa & Prof. Hoole
23 March, 2007
Countercurrents.org
Professor S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole, Vice Chancellor, University of Jaffna, who was forced to flee Sri Lanka because of death threats by the LTTE, in a no-holds-barred interview, gives his view on political developments in the country, refugee influx in the East, LTTE activities in the Jaffna University, literacy rate in Jaffna and his position as the VC.
Q: What do you think about the current political developments in the Country?A: I am very sad at the developments and only hope that good sense will prevail. There is no military solution. As long as there are Tamil people in Sri Lanka and they are not treated as equal citizens, there will be no solution. So long as Tamils are denied their due place, young hot-blooded youth will always feel inclined to join militant movements.
Q: The Government says the East will be liberated within a few weeks. What do you think?
A: Liberated from what? The history of the East has always been being under somebody's cruel boot. I am personally aware of eastern Tamil students who had under-age brothers hiding in their rooms at Peradeniya to escape LTTE forced recruitment. I have had students who were in a company of other students of whom some were killed by the STF and they had escaped only because they were able to beg the soldiers for their lives in Sinhalese. Today by all accounts Col. Karuna who troubled Eastern Tamils with LTTE power is continuing the same, this time in the name of the eastern people with government backing. Strange, isn't it, that those who appoint themselves our representatives invariably seem to be acting against our very interests? In times of war, cruelty of man towards man is the natural order and I do not believe the army's winning would represent any liberation. The large numbers of refugees are an indication of the continuing misery and the callousness of authorities to that misery.
If the army wins as you seem to predict, it would be short term. Soldiers are tense in war time and will be cruel to the citizens they control. It can only mean greater Tamil militancy and even greater misery for us Tamils.
Q: Many organisations have blamed the government for creating a large number of refugees in the East. They even say that it's a big humanitarian crisis in the Country. What are your remarks?
A: Bull's eye! I fully agree. The Tamils or the Sinhalese cannot prosper while putting down the other. A catastrophe for the Batticaloa Tamil is as much a catastrophe for the Jaffna Tamil and the Sinhalese and indeed the whole country.
Q: What is the Eastern peoples' challenge?
A: You are right in saying peoples. Yes the East has peoples. Tamils who assert their right as a people cannot deny the rights of Muslims as a people and perhaps even the rights of Eastern Tamils to peoplehood if that is what they wish.
In some ways the rights of the Eastern people to have their distinct ways have been challenged as they were subjected to greater forced recruitment and had to bear the greater brunt of military onslaughts by the state and child recruitment. I believe that most of the TELO cadre massacred in Jaffna as the IPKF left were from the East. As the government colonized the East and Tamil villages were depopulated through massacres by the STF, it is the East that suffered in ways the North had never seen or imagined. However, the Eastern peoples' challenge is a common challenge to all Tamils. The strongest reason for Federalism is that we Tamils need an area where we can live in safety, free of the massacres by the army we have seen in the East. The permanent merger of the North-East is so emotive because it is our guarantee of safety in numbers, especially the safety of eastern Tamils. Anything by Tamil groups like denial of freedoms, internecine murders and child-recruitment that makes Tamils feel unsafe in the North-East weakens this argument.
We Tamils as a people have a right to live under a culture we choose. The very presence of Tamils in Sri Lanka living as Tamils is being ideologically challenged by the JVP and JHU. The fighting and the attendant safety issues raised increase this challenge as people leave - leave theNorth-East and leave Sri Lanka. Remember that at the time of independence we 'Tamil speaking peoples' were close to 27% of the population. The fissures with the Muslims were a major debacle.Jaffna Tamil callousness as our plantation brethren were disfranchised resulted in further reduction in Tamil numbers as many of them were repatriated. Today with many of us having fled to India, Canada, and Europe, our total Tamil numbers combining so called Ceylon and Indian Tamils are down to about 11.2% -- the bulk of these outside the North- East and in the estates. No one talks about this. For the government it is embarrassing. For us Tamils the real numbers would mean fewer seats in Parliament and lower university quotas. So we all pretend that Tamils are at the level of the last census in 1981. This prevents Tamils from recognizing the real problem of our being a vanishing community. A few more years of this war, we Tamils may not exist in Sri Lanka as a people. That is our greatest challenge. And any war that leads to that is not liberation.
Q: The Vice Chancellor of Eastern University was kidnapped a few months ago. But it is not known what happened to him. What are your remarks?
A: His kidnapping is a measure of the sickness that has overcome Tamil society. It is deplored unequivocally. Having said that I am also duty bound to say that such kidnapping is nothing new at Eastern University. Previously VC Santhanam and Acting VC Thangarajah were kidnapped. VC Mookiah was surrounded by the student union which demanded his resignation and he fled to the South with only the clothes he had on and resigned. All three are from outside Jaffna. Eastern Deans have also been kidnapped (Ramakrishna, Balasugumar). At a university where Ph.D-holding staff are rare, easterners Dr. K. Kobindarajah and Dr. Thriuchelvan were threatened (the latter by a shot to the thigh) and are abroad now still defending their positions as the Council has given notice of termination. Why are those Tamil newspapers and NGOs that were silent on these atrocities against scholars then, now having a correct but mysteriously sudden interest in a kidnapping in the East? Is it because Col. Karuna is the prime suspect in Prof. Raveendranath's case while the other atrocities were by the LTTE? Let us do all we can to secure Prof. Raveendranath's safety but be equally conscientious when people we may like or fear do the same thing to people who are not from Jaffna. I too felt a burdensome loneliness when I was under pressure to quit Jaffna. Tamil newspapers had news releases (by anonymous organizations claiming to speak in the name of the people of Jaffna) given to them to print. The editor of a major newspaper told me that he had no choice but to print these and could help only by printing replies. (As an afterthought he rhetorically asked me, "But who is there to reply?") He added that there are reporters less than 25 years in age who are sent to him to employ and that he cannot pull out what they write, but again could only print replies. I suppose the Free Media Movement would say that they did not know of this situation to protest against the pressures suffered by Tamil newspapers as they freely do against government pressure.
Q: University of Jaffna was a huge base of Tamil military movements' propaganda during the past. Could you explain that history?
A: The university is a non-political academic institution that is supposed to advance learning. But we academics have failed to uphold this academic tradition. It is sad that this politicization seems to come from the very top. As reported in Tamilnet on July 5, 2006 with colour photos, Prof. Kumaravadivel, the man handpicked by the UGC to cover my duties as VC, celebrated Black Tigers Day at the university, joined by high LTTE officials. He led the occasion by lighting the traditional oil lamp. I suppose the VC's entertainment budget was used for the tea that followed. A previous Vice Chancellor had a stainless steel monument for fallen Tigers built right in the middle of the campus. I hope government funds were not used for it.
Jaffna degrees have been issued to several people who never sat the exams. After exposure of the scandal, the university has not moved to withdraw the degrees. The newspapers that originally raked it up also suddenly fell silent. The UGC too has been silent despite the press. This makes clear the affiliation of those who graduated thus from Jaffna.
I think the TULF, a party to which I have emotional and family ties, must accept some responsibility for this politicization of the young. Frustrated by lack of advancement of Tamil rights through Parliament, the party embarked on so called protest boycotts demanding schools and shops to shut down as often demanded. When some expressed doubts, the party used the youth as goon-squads to enforce its will and lost control as our youth, drunk with new power, got radicalized.
Q: Whom have you identified as the agents of terrorism?
A: Terrorism in Sri Lanka has come from the state, the JVP and the LTTE. The state as legitimate authority has the largest onus to do things right. It is sad that a minister in this government, Champika Ranawaka, can remain a minister after publicly saying "If [terrorists] can't be dealt [with] with existing laws, we know how to do it. If we can't suppress those bastards with the law, we need to use any other ways." What moral authority then has a government to condemn those who resort to terrorism while a respectable minister threatens terrorism? However the state has fulfilled its role creditably with respect to rehabilitating the JVP and obviating some of the causes of its radicalism. I know from my university days that colleagues who had joined the JVP were treated with a generosity never shown to the LTTE. I remember sitting exams with JVP friends who had been given books in prison and brought to the exam hall to sit with me and are engineers today. A person from the second insurrection after release from jail graduated and even became my rather youthful boss at Peradeniya and simultaneously the Chairman of a state corporation. Others are even MPs and until recently Ministers.
On the other hand, Bindunuwewa with its shameful impunity and a judiciary sympathetic to those who murdered youthful persons under rehabilitation is what Tamils remember of LTTE rehabilitation. We Tamils and Sinhalese are obviously not equal children of the state.
Q: Are you satisfied about government politics in the North and East?
A: Things are far better than they were up to 1994. But political wisdom seems to be in short supply again today - especially the wisdom that terrorism is not fought through wars but through addressing the causes that make normally good people resort to terrorism because there seems to be no other way. The government must have the wisdom to implement the language laws in the North-East, and establish a federal system there minimally with powers over land, education, police and taxation and punish soldiers who terrorize the public. With some firm international guarantees over the behavior of the other side, I believe the country would quickly be transformed into a place that all of us would love to live in, and call our own. The BC pact was acceptable to Tamils at that time but seems too little today in the light of all that we have been through. Thus as we delay, all the feasible options become more and more extreme to Sinhalese and less and less enough to Tamils. The UNP-PA pact must be revived if something is to be done quickly.
Q: Could you recollect your experiences at University of Jaffna working as a Vice Chancellor?
A: I am glad you asked. I was appointed VC/Jaffna effective March 12 by HE the President. University of Peradeniya accordingly released me to Jaffna. I functioned from Colombo, issued instructions as VC and represented the university in official capacity. There is record of all this at the UGC.
Because of threats to my life the UGC gave me leave to go abroad. It is noteworthy that the UGC giving me leave was necessarily recognition of my being VC. If not, it would have been only up to Peradeniya to consider my leave.
Since my departure, events have taken an unfortunate turn. I have not been paid my salary since March 12, 2006, not even for the period of my approved leave. The UGC does not reply or even acknowledge receipt of my several letters. I have emailed the Chairman with copies to the Secretary. I have faxed letters to the Chairman's fax and to the Secretary's fax. All to no avail! Prof. Parameshwaran, the most senior academic at the university and former Dean of Medicine agreed to cover my duties provided the UGC also asked. The UGC did. He faxed the UGC in the morning of one day saying that he had begun work at the VC's office. After "a visit" by some persons, he faxed the UGC the same day in the afternoon saying that he is unable to cover my duties. After Prof. Kumaravadivel was allowed by these visitors to function, Prof. Parameshwaran wrote a justly angry letter to the UGC and others pointing out the situation where such a person is allowed to cover my duties. Prof. Kuamaravidivel who now covers my duties at the request of the UGC has signed letters placing my seal "Vice Chancellor, University of Jaffna".
It is relevant that there can be no Acting VC either, since it would mean that there is no VC. It creates the problem of salaries for 2 persons as VC when there is financial provision for only one person to be paid as VC. The UGC seems to have thought that it is all right to hand over the university and drop me quietly so that they can be seen to be maintaining order.
As far as I know the law, only HE the President can remove me from the post of VC. He may well do so but I have not been informed of such precipitous action by him. Until the President removes me, there can be no other VC or even Acting VC for University of Jaffna, .unless I vacate office or my 3-year term ends If the UGC wants me to step aside in the interests of the university I will do so. But then it must tell me so. Ignoring me is certainly not the gentlemanly way to deal with a VC and former Commission Member.
Q: How are the LTTE activities in the University?A: I have been out now for a year to comment. But I understand that a Jaffna Council Member, to the great chagrin of the UGC Chairman, had asserted at an official meeting with the UGC that Sri Lankan laws do not apply there. I would urge the LTTE to allow the university to be independent. It is in the Tamil interest to develop the university and we cannot expect the Sri Lankan government to be whole-hearted about pouring money into a university where the government has little say.
Q: Do you justify any university students being involved with politics?
A: As adults all university students are entitled to engage in politics. But our politics must be confined to the legal. The real problem was brought about by the Sri Lankan political system being non-responsive to the parliamentary politics of Tamil moderates. When moderates could show no progress on behalf of the Tamils who had elected them, there was frustration and young people took to street politics and then to guns. What you see at the university is a response to frustration with the ineffectiveness of civilized methods. It is a sign of the failure of the Sri Lankan polity.
Q: Many students of University of Jaffna have been killed by unidentified gunman during thepast. It's a catastrophe for future of students. What are your remarks?
A: I agree it is a catastrophe. That is why all parties must leave the university alone and depoliticise it.
Q: Who is this shadow killer?
A: There is no one shadow killer. My information is that the Army, the LTTE and several Tamil victims of the LTTE now working with the army are engaged in tit-for-tat killings.
Q: Could you tell us about your opinion about PTA [Prevention Terrorism Act]?
A: The PTA has no place in a civilized society. Putting criminals behind bars is far less important to a civilized society than avoiding the inimical transformation of a society that comes with putting innocent people behind bars, killing and torturing innocent people, etc. When we as a people accept the PTA, we make savages of ourselves and diminish our civilization.
Q: Could you summarize the Indian position on the problem of Sri Lanka?
A: I cannot speak for India. But what I gather is that India tried to help us, Tamils and Sinhalese alike, and sort out our problems at a time when we were killing each other. But we turned our guns on India and humiliated India. Through this involvement, we even ruined India's carefully cultivated image as a society committed to high principle. Indians now do not trust us and I do not blame them. They do not want to be involved because of this lack of trustworthy partners. Those whom they do trust, have no power to be of any use. But it is time for India to forget this hurt and take on her responsibilities as a great power in the region.
When there is a huge war on India's border, and refugees pour into India, Indian fishermen are shot at and Indian soil is used for gun-running, India has a humanitarian responsibility and duty to assert herself and indeed a right to act in the interests of her own security.
Q: Some sources said India is unhappy about the defence pact between the government and USA. What do you think?
A: I think US interests are far greater in India than in Sri Lanka. It is difficult for Sri Lankans to accept this but it is very true. Today the US and India are firm partners on many fronts. I therefore seriously doubt that there was no quiet nod from or consultation with India before the US signed this pact with Sri Lanka.
Q: What do you think about the next step of the LTTE and their leadership?
A: If I had the power to tell the LTTE what to do, I would not have had to flee Sri Lanka. But if I were to advise them, I would say this. The war has to stop. Negotiate with the Sri Lankan state and get control of the North-East so that it is a preserve of Tamil culture. As I said earlier, a few more years of this fighting, there would be no Tamils left to even dream about an area of Sri Lanka where Tamils can live their culture in safety. Possible LTTE military gains pale into insignificance in relation to the imperatives of population statistics. Come to any negotiated position quickly to take control of Tamil areas. Ensure that Tamils do find it pleasant to live in the North-East and have no reason to flee. Come to an understanding with the Muslims.
Q: Please explain the current literacy rate in the North?A: I think thanks to government policy and the war, literacy is down and the UGC's categorization of Jaffna as a backward district would be justified. Vavuniya's cut-off mark for university admissions was higher than Jaffna's 2 years ago. This year Jaffna is a little higher - a sign of the so called peace dividend. With the current situation I am sure Jaffna will go down again. As for schools, my wife undertook a massive survey on behalf of Save the Children. Schools in the North- East and Kandy and Moneragala were studied. Her findings were published by Save the Children. Her findings in summary: Schools in the Tamil districts of Kilinocchi and Mannar have few access roads. Some schools in Mannar and Kilinochchi have no buildings. The NE has the smallest percentage of teachers and resources in the good category. When it comes to teachers in Kilinochchi, 67% are not trained (as opposed to 23% on average), And 50% of English teachers are voluntary (as opposed to regular teachers elsewhere).
The schools in the North-East are largely without a playground. The textbook position is the worst. While all schools are supposed to receive free textbooks, the North-East does not get them and when they do they are not on time.
The ranking of schools says it all. The North-East Schools have most schools in the lower ranks. The Kandy and Monaragala schools have most of their schools scoring for human resources in the highest category 70-80 whereas North East Schools are mainly in the 60-70 range and this only because of the voluntary teachers. (Gampaha schools were the model). But in allocated physical resources, Kandy is up around 80% while Kilinochchi is down to 35%. Unless something is done soon and the war is stopped, we Tamils will soon become the coolies of Sri Lanka.
Q: What are your plans?
A: I would love to return and contribute. But I can do that only if things are safe for me. And interviews like this do not help!
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