A fresh wave of attacks by Racist elements and influencing Racism

by Hiranya Malwatta | May 10, 2009 at 08:05 am

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**I dedicate this article to Lakshman Kadirgamar, a person I valued so much and brought tears to my eyes when I heard about his death. Please watch,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTr-zuGNssY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSwWM2zCq50

I abhor any kind of sentiment expressed that are either racist, or influencing racism in any way. This post by me is to highlight that a fresh wave of attacks have been launched in international circuits trying to drag Sri Lanka once agian on a path that we have traveled many decades ago. Sri Lanka was dragged onto a racist path many decades ago by power hungry politicians who played with the feelings of the people just to win their own ends.

I will begin by quoting Sebastian Rasalingam, a Lankan Tamil who lives in Canada now. However, do not interpret this article as an attack on any ethnic community, I simply want to point out that the inter communal conflict in Sri Lanka was created by a few who thought they would benefit from it. The people never were racist in essence.

I went to live in Hatton and then Colombo. The society that I found in the Sinhalese areas was much more just and equitable than the social ethos of Jaffna and Mannar that I had already seen. The Tamils in Colombo had a dominant position in commerce, banking, professions and every walk of life. I felt that we, too, could easily prosper in Sri Lanka, even with Sinhala only or virtually no Tamil, just as the Jews have done in New York, with no Yiddish recognized as a national language. I began to understand the evilness of individuals like S. J. V. Chelvanayagam and E. M. V. Naganathan.

Mr. Rasalingam further states,

Would the Tamils living in the south be deported to the North if Arasu were achieved? Surely, Sinhalese discrimination against Tamils is nothing compared to what I and my wife, an estate Tamil, had to face within the Tamil society.

Mr. Rasalingam is one person who always writes that the conflict was created. In reality, no ethnic conflict did exist in the hearts of the Sinhala and Tamil people.

I could doubt the political programme that was gaining ground among the Tamils because I happened to be an educated low-caste Tamil with Estate-Tamil connections. The Tamil politicians worked very hard to polarize the people and drive a wedge between the two ethnic groups. The Arasu Kadchi people were actually happy that the Banda-Chelva accord was torn asunder. Ethnic division was necessary for creating the exclusive "Tamil homelands" Given such an inflammatory extra-parliamentary objective, the final struggle had to be war.

Why am I writing about this now? Because during the past few weeks, I was watching how a huge wave of attacks were being launched by various different sects in an attempt to take us back to those days where the people who were together in everything, suddenly became each other's enemies. Sri Lanka and its citizens have come a long way since those evil days, and I don't think we will ever go back to that, however much various elements try.

1) Here in NowPublic, some pro-LTTE elements suddenly started posting many stories that directly attacked Buddhists of Sri Lanka as a group. The attack there is on Sinhala Buddhists.

2) In NowPublic, someone with a Sinhalese name started saying in many comments that all the other Sinhalese people in Sri Lanka are campaigning for a country with no other Race but Sinhala living there. The exact words were a 'Sinhala only Land'. However no evidence for this claim was provided.

3) Sonali Samarasinghe, the widow of Lasantha Wikramatunge is seen writing outrageous lies about how Racist Sri Lanka is. She claims that there are placards all over Sri Lanka saluting the armed forces for their sacrifices and these placards say in Sinhala "Our Race salutes you" - She has no shame because this is a horrible lie. All the placards say in Sinhala that "Our Nation salutes you". "Jaathiye Pranaamaya" means "The nation salutes you".

Finally I must mention that there are some disillusioned members/editors here in NowPublic itself, who always, if and whenever they comment on Sri Lanka's war, try to throw a comment influencing Racism. They do not understand the first thing about the complexity of Sri Lanka's war. They do know a little bit they have heard about how a "Sinhala Only Act" was brought in 1956 (which was not fully implemented and in 1987 was fully corrected) and this is the card they play to show their knowledge on the subject. I find these comments horribly in low taste because it influences Racist mentalities. If one comes down to the real soil of Sri Lanka (not the cyber Sri Lanka and cyber Eelam please) one would know that Racist mentality in people are no more in Sri Lanka, of course excepting the few extremes like one would find in many countries.

Mr. Rasalingam finally states,

The IDP camps in Vavniya are far better than the IDP camps in India. The Diaspora has not risen to help our Tamils in the IDP camps in Sri Lanka or India. Instead, it chooses to wave Tiger flags in western capitals and use political blackmail by "fasting unto death", immolation and such undemocratic methods.

The Tamil Diaspora has to cure itself of the Eelam Virus. Then and then only can it help the Tamils.

In western countries when they look for Al-Qaeda, they have taken Muslims and can this be interpreted as Racial descrimination? In Sri Lanka during '88-'89 a Sinhala militant group (not as ruthless as LTTE, but they were terrorists too) was crushed ruthlessly by the then government and was that interpreted as Racial descrimination against Sinhalese? Whether the tactics are correct or not, crushing terrorism cannot and should not be labeled as anything other than what it is. Those who try to portray it as something else, have other agendas and interests at heart.

For those non-Sri Lankan people in NP: Unless you have experienced Sri Lanka in the south today, you cannot know what you are talking about.

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sathyajith

at 08:45 on May 10th, 2009

For Racits - Tamils he was a traitor and tigers issued the death penalty on Kadir and got killed due to lack of responsibility to threats on kadir's life also another socalled TkT Tamils kill Tamils.

israeli.agent

at 10:24 on May 10th, 2009

It is easy to mix up what happened in Sri Lanka in the past (does not matter whether it happened in 1950s/1960 or BC 30625 ) with the present, carefully avoiding the references of timeframe, and howl "genocide and pesticide". What LTTE sound-artists are doing is the perfect mixing of selected past voices with the doctored pictures and then produce a timeless form of "modern genocide" as the west identify with that term better. Blinded by the bright colors of such propaganda marvels that drive the legendary Joseph Goebbels towards suicide, the west always forgets to see one thing - Sri Lanka has changed a lot in past 20 years.

The present Sri Lanka is not the one that existed around 20 odd years back. Like the dumeel diaspora, Sinhalese too have a diaspora. Almost similar to the Chinese diaspora. Like the tamils, they too wear their identity with pride, but they don't blast it in your face like the tamils do. Sinhalese have realized that in the modern word nobody gives you free bread only because one belongs to a particular group (cast, ethnicity, lingo, creed or religion).

The LTTE propagandists, well aware of this fact, are just trying to destroy that image. Crying "chauvinism and extremism in the too of their voice, they are hoping that world opinion will change about what they think about Sri Lankan's in General and Sinhalese in particular.

Here is an example for such an article, "compiled" by a group of LTTE supporters.

Please let me know if such an article reminds anyone of another great "leader" who wanted everyone to address him the same way, in his native language - "Der Führer"

Let me reproduce that "story" in it's entirety before the "author" changes of deletes that.

The Sinhalese politicians of Sri Lanka and the hard-line Buddhists monks have promoted the Sinhalese chauvinism. However, it is quite interesting to see that a 74% percentage Sinhalese would fear the 15% of Tamils to take over Sri Lanka with good education, jobs and may be eventually the parliamentary voice. The fear and insecurity are fed by the politicians and hard-line Buddhists monks to keep hatred and animosity towards Tamils.

This insecurity of the majority Sinhalese does have a deeper root, that is the Sinhalese language and the Buddhism itself comes from Tamils, and Hinduism. Buddha was a born Hindu and he derived his focus and teachings on the peace and harmony from the basic teachings of Hinduism.

The Sinhala language itself is a Dravidian language.

H. A. J. Hulugalle, in his booklet `Information for Tourists, 1947` says in the first paragraph on page one: The Sinhalese are a mixed race, their language has been vastly enriched with words from the Tamil vocabulary. Mudliyar W. F. Gunawardene says the Sinhala language is primarily a Dravidian language.

Source: lankanewspapers.com

History shows that Sinhalese Buddhists are a mixed race derived from Tamils and Hinduism, mainly from South India.

Buddhists get their heads anointed, tie the `pirith noola,` indulge in `ganu-denu,` perform rituals, recite prayers, light incense to the Gods every morning before commencing business for the day, lay foundations at auspicious times etc. etc. It may therefore not be incorrect to assume that Sri Lankan Buddhists, who profess to follow Theravada Buddhism, are descendants of the Tamils (Hindus). No king of Lanka during its 2000 years history claimed that he was from an Aryan dynasty.

Source: lankanewspapers.com

Knowing the little foundation to their own culture and history, Sinhalese extremists know if taken apart, their history and culture will fall back into Tamils History and Hinduism.

The Sinhala Buddhists hard-line monks and extremists entertains the insecurity to keep the hatred towards the Tamils minority in Sri Lanka.

The majority in Sri Lanka needs to come to terms with their "minority complex" so that they can productively accomodate Tamils' rights and freedom in Sri Lanka.

.Agent.

Hiranya Malwatta

at 10:46 on May 10th, 2009

hehe that sure was a funny article Agent :-) I did not bother to read it when the author published it in NP, but I read it now because you posted it.

I found this sentence there "Buddha was a born Hindu and he derived his focus and teachings on the peace and harmony from the basic teachings of Hinduism." which I believe is correct. I have immense respect for Hinduism and yes, Buddhism has got some of its guidelines from Hinduism.

"Buddhists get their heads anointed, tie the `pirith noola,` indulge in `ganu-denu,` perform rituals, recite prayers, light incense to the Gods every morning before commencing business for the day, lay foundations at auspicious times etc. etc."

Well, some of the above mentioned are not Buddhist practices, but Sinhalese obviously have got those practices through the influence of Hindu culture coming from India. Hindu and Tamil are not one and the same. Ancient Sri Lanka was invaded by many different Indian kings, not only Dravidian.

As for the rest of it... the author can claim whatever he/she likes to believe, I don't see why it should matter to any Sinhalese or Tamil. Sinhalese are believed to be a mixed race. I don't see any problem with that. And no, the large majority of Sinhalese don't claim that we are Aryans nor are they bothered as to who we originate from. If the author likes to, he/she can call us Tamils :-)

Paschen

at 15:56 on May 10th, 2009

I think this post belongs into the forum and not on the site.

Paschen

at 16:09 on May 10th, 2009

It is a good posting and yet not objective. Was it objective you would site and read all sites and debate then trying to find balance and the truth.

Mixing the LTTE with the Tamil at large and ignoring the assassinated Tamil politicians in Sri Lanka is not what I call seeking the truth.

There are two sides to each story and a third that is the reality wish at time can be rather hard to find.

Peace can only be achieved through Justice, Equality, fairness and open minds.

This would be valid for Sri Lanka, Former Yugoslavia, Israel and Palestine as well as some other conflict zone around the globe.

Most are against the LTTE as well as against Sri Lanka's Government, some of of course are blind supporter of either.

The EU, the US and the UN have all by now condemned the LTTE as well as the Government of Sri Lanka.

The people on all sides are the victims in the end, to the profit of a few an the misery of most.

Hiranya Malwatta

at 22:30 on May 10th, 2009

Thanks for the comment. However, I don't think you have understood the essence of the posting.

"Mixing the LTTE with the Tamil at large and ignoring the assassinated Tamil politicians in Sri Lanka is not what I call seeking the truth."

Where in my post have I mixed the Tamils at large with the LTTE? Tamils at large living in Sri Lanka, the people I have known from childhood DO NOT support LTTE nor do they want LTTE to create a mono-ethnic land. Their lives are too inter-woven with the rest of the Sri Lankans, the Sinhalese and the Muslims. I have extended family who are Tamil through marriage to my cousin. I'm trying to talk about this unity and solidarity of our people (Sinhala and Tamil).

No this article is not about political assassinations, be it by LTTE or various governments of Sri Lanka. The subject is about the common people and how they feel about each other.

"Most are against the LTTE as well as against Sri Lanka's Government, some of course are blind supporter of either. "

It is your choice to be against both a legitimate government AND the terrorist outfit its fighting with, but I don't see how that is related to my article. I'm talking about something totally different from what you are talking about.

Paschen, take a moment and try to put your prejudices aside and then read. You will then find what this post is all about.

Paschen

at 23:21 on May 10th, 2009

A country that wages decades of war rather then peace keeping has not a good track record.

nor any credibility what so ever, Sri Lanka's Government is in no way better nor worth then any other government disrespecting Humanity, Such as the Serbian Conflict, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

You are missing the point, You deal and treat Human like chess figures and the causalities as acceptable. Yet their are not nor is the support of war or killing.

Sri Lanka has failed and could have avoided decades of war by allowing a Peace mission. The fact it did not, does speak volumes.

I have no prejudice against any one other then murderer and blood driven animals calling them self Human. I do not care who that may be or what side they are on. If you kill ad support or endorse it then you lost all credibility and right to be Human.

Sri Lanka's Government and the LTTE are both guilty and terrorist all the same.