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USA ambassador says Sinhalese chauvinism is on rise in Sri Lanka.
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by Tamiya | March 23, 2009 at 08:21 pm
535 views | 22 Recommendations | 16 comments
Sinhalese extremism is further fueled by the invasion of Tamils' regions in Sri Lanka. Consequently, the radical Sri Lankan Government has enforced prison like atmosphere in the (Indian Army led and) Sri Lankan Army captured Tamil areas.
“The concern is that with military success there is a growing Sinhalese chauvinism and certain hard-line Sinhalese elements in government that say the government does not need to devolve any power to the Tamils,” Mr. Blake said. “Essentially, to the victor go the spoils.”
When the government says it has "liberated" the areas, the Tamils view the areas as being "captured". Either the residents of these areas choose retract along with the rebels or live in fear under the Sri Lankan Army. In the documentary Hunting the Tigers, Amos Roberts of SBS Dateline reports, the living conditions of captured areas; either the towns are operated as open prisons by the Sri Lankan Government or ghost towns like entirely deserted areas where the residents have fled back into the jungles.
Batticaloa, a city on Sri Lanka’s eastern shore, was freed from Tamil control two years ago and is an example, in the eyes of the government, of postwar reconstruction.
Infrastructure is being rebuilt and central government control has been restored. But it is a cold peace, with police checkpoints in the town center, armed thugs prowling back streets and continuing reports of abductions and disappearances.
A largely Sinhalese police force patrols a Tamil population, often unable to communicate in a common language.
Amos Roberts asserts that no independent journalists are allowed near the war zone and those who dare criticize the government are kidnapped, arrested or murdered.
The final choice for Tamils is the infamous concentration camps set out by the Sri Lankan Government to exploit Tamils.
Robert Evans, a British Labour politician who has visited Sri Lanka as chairman of the European Parliament delegation on Relations with South Asia, told the London Times: "These are not welfare camps; they are prisoner-of-war cum concentration camps." Britain's Department for International Development cautiously declared: "We do not believe that the current plans represent a sufficient solution by international humanitarian standards."
With the Majority Sinhalese Government supporting the Sinhalese bigotry, and, in turn, the Sinhalese racism sustaining the extremist Sinhalese Sri Lankan Government, Tamils now have even less to hope for a future in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the UN council is struggling to discuss the Sri Lankan humanitarian crisis and many countries are consumed in the global economic crisis. Thus the current situation is the perfect recipe to eradicate Tamils, nearly or entirely, in Sri Lanka.
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Tiana
Manchester, United Kingdom
Uwe Paschen
Narita, Chiba, Japan
gerrypopplestone
London and elsewhere, United Kingdom
senthil5000
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (16)
at 21:37 on March 23rd, 2009
Important post. My experience of Sri Lanka, when I visit each year, is I need to keep quiet because of the Singhalese attitudes to the Tamil conflict.
at 23:32 on March 24th, 2009
gerrypopplestone,
LOL
Looks like you have got a good bashing from someone when you were in SL. Judging by your pompous comments on NP regarding the Sinhalese I cannot wonder why you got such treatment. You go to a country and insult the people and expect them to be nice to you?
Even now, look at your words. ----> "Singhalese attitudes to the Tamil conflict"
for one, it is not a "tamil only" conflict. Remember it is the Sinhalese and the Muslims who were being masscred by LTTE up until now.
at 08:27 on April 19th, 2009
basically wot ur sayin is killing 2000 tamils is ok but killing 100 singhalese is not =S =|
at 09:43 on March 24th, 2009
Few Sinhalese willing to speak for Tamils Diaspora, but only a few of the few willing to do so by putting their lives and livelihood on line. However, these Sinhalese have put their lives in harms way to help the Tamils Diaspora. Brian Senewiratne is one of the prominent speakers, a Consultant Physician from Brisbane, Australia.
He has said that "There has been an unprecedented reaction by the Sinhalese community by way of offensive e-mails and telephone calls. The verbal abuse is serious and disruptive. They have taken the form of telephone calls, both to my home phone and my mobile every half an hour throughout the night, ever since I published the Trinco bombing. The calls are disruptive not only of my sleep but, what is more serious, of my medical practice. I’m on call to several hospitals and it is impossible, and quite irresponsible in the interest of patient care, to knock off both my mobile and home phone. ....Although it does not bother us too much, it may be one reason why so few Singhalese (and others) have been reluctant to come forward and say what has to be said..." Source Tamilnet.com
Selected Writings, Brian Senewiratne, Australia
Buddhist Chauvinism & the Buddhist Clergy
Religious bigotry used for political mobilization - Prof.Uyangoda
Many Tamils are grateful for these exceptional Sinhalese, who would put their own lives in danger for talking about Tamils' rights in Sri Lanka.
Lasantha Wickrematunge died for true journalism. He spoke for Tamils rights, and criticized the Sri Lankan Government for further fueling chauvinism for its own political gains. However, he was shot to death by the Sri Lankan Government forces; The final leading article : As for me, God knows I tried Lasantha Wickrematunga - Sri Lanka's hero editor
Lasantha Wickrematunga's Wife On A Mission To Bring Justice To Sri Lanka. However, she and anybody talks for Tamils' rights are accused of being traders by Sinhalese extremists and their government. Sri Lanka journalists 'risk death'
It is hard to find anybody that can live in Sir Lanka, and talk for Tamils' rights without being killed sooner than later.
at 10:39 on March 24th, 2009
The above article reflects the truth. Without wishing to name names, it is even reflected in a couple of NowPublic members' attitude. If any tamil puts their opinion or experience across, they are slated by these members. I repeatedly made a point that individuals should be allowed to express their opinions without having their heads bitten off or being automatically branded LTTE sympathisers, but gave up in the end. There is a clear division of Sinhalese and Tamils on this website itself. It's funny how both views are of the opposite ends. I'm just glad more Tamils have joined this website, for a while it was just me against the opinions of many others.
People need to stop and think why both races' opinions differ. Sinhalese are only fed the government's version of the news, but the Tamils know what is happening in Vanni. We see exactly who is dying out there from various sources. These are not made up. People my family knows have died this year in Vanni from the government's shelling. However, there is absolutely no point trying to explain the situation to the Sinhalese through this website, because they will just refuse to believe us. Just educate the others who haven't a clue what is happening in SL. It boils my blood when people dismiss everything that the Tamils are deeply saddened by in the recent months. They do not know that every single tamil is affected badly by what is happening out there. I'm just glad one of my best friends who happens to be a sinhalese knows what is happening.
at 11:51 on March 24th, 2009
Tiana,
I am glad you are back. I must tell you that you and the Prabhakaran worshipers here are vastly different. Worlds apart in fact.
Coming from you I can understand your concern for the people. The others here are not worth talking about.
Shells have killed people. It is true. Although I don't know how anyone can say for sure from which party, it will be from both sides.
I have told you before, that I have my sources also, and what I say does not come from government propaganda. The Army (i'm talking abt the present) does not kill any innocent civilian point blank, on purpose, the way LTTE is doing. There is no Genocide.
If you are determined to be grouped with the Prabhakaran worshipers here, you might get the same treatment from people, that is unavoidable.
at 12:39 on March 24th, 2009
eh?!
Try again.
at 08:31 on April 19th, 2009
again may i ask you.. you think killing innocent tamil civilians is not genocide..=O..i read this article from the government that 500 tamil tiger rebels are holding the civilians hostages..how the hell can they hold at least 200,000 tamil civilians hostages whilst fighting at least 150,000 SLA forces =S...
at 22:48 on March 24th, 2009
Tiana you may have overlooked a couple of pertinant poins in your eloquent disclosure.
at 23:41 on March 24th, 2009
Totally valid points Sudharaka.
When all ethnicities have suffered, one party cries Genocide, makes all the noise in the world, and I am sure that's enough to make the blood boil in most people. But the common Sinhala man has shown extraordinary resilience since after 1983. Every single massacre after 1983 the Tamil Tigers committed was not received with any reaction. How many incidents, how many innocents? It is countless.
at 06:07 on March 26th, 2009
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All ethnicities suffered too. however
But you are trying to fight the symptoms...
I am trying to fight the root cause.
If what happens to who expresses displeasure regarding the Sri Lankan Government? If the Government acts worse than terrorists, how you can first criticize the rebel force fighting the same government? First, make the Sri Lankan Government behave like a Government, then there would be no need for LTTE.
Things are not going to work out between Tamils and Sinhalese anymore.
By history, Tamils and Sinhalese have lived in their own nation in the Sri Lankan Island for over 2000 years.
Just the colonial power, specifically, the British combined these two nations into one for administrative convenience. This time period is less than couple of hundreds years, but Tamils are used to deciding their destiny in their own nation in Sri Lanka for over 2000 years.
However, this one country arrangement is not working for Tamils or Sinhalese; specifically with 74% being Sinhalese and 16% being Tamils, Tamils can never have fair representation in the Parliament even in accommodating non-chauvinistic Sinhalese community. However, the Sinhalese chauvinism has been encouraged and cultivated for political gains in Sri Lanka for over 60 years now; Tamils don't have the energy to try undo this mentality. We are just tired fighting the atrocities that have been done to us for over 60 years.
So just let Tamils go in our separate nation. Tamils autonomy is the solution for this. We are not asking for a new country. We are just asking the independent nation we lived in before colonial power came to Sri Lanka.
Live in peace and let Tamils live in peace too.
Then there would be no blaming. No need for LTTE for Tamil community.
at 08:34 on April 19th, 2009
if you go against the government, you get killed too.. isn't that what happened to that journalist, Lasantha Wickramatunga, who just stood up for tamil rights but got killed.
at 08:32 on April 19th, 2009
you're spot on =D
at 22:02 on April 7th, 2009
Hello
I am from India. Sinhalese attitude is so agressive and barbaric, i think india will wake up soon from the trap laid by sinhala harliners. When india wakes up, then you will see the change.
at 10:35 on May 17th, 2009
That is a fantacy of an Indian. for last 3000 years Sri Lanka remained indipendent until british came. I think you should think about little bit before speak.
at 01:56 on May 20th, 2009
you sinhala fuckers and assholes cowards!!!!!!!!!! using the help of other army to win civillians and ltte.