In 1948, when Sri Lanka, then Ceylon gained independence, the patriarchal majority rulers made up mostly from the Buddhist Sinhalese community, had a minority complex guilt of having to share the only country they had to call their own with minorities. To this day they continue to defend their community in accordance with this doctrine they arbitrarily adopted.
These patriotic rulers and those who ruled thereafter have long resorted to various repressions against all minorities to retain power and in the process benefited by their efforts.
By late 1970s, all minority Tamil communities gradually lost their basic rights in their own country. Thus the affected Tamil people democratically revolted against the Sinhala government. This was severely curtailed by the rulers through their repressive methods. As a result, the minority Tamil-speaking people have had to endure a long and brutal war of mass persecution.
After a long cruel civil-war that claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and much destruction, in 2009 the government brought to finish the war, with much help of 17 friendly countries. The world knows well, brutal war gave the country a massive economic downturn and what is more that tens of thousands of Tamils were killed, especially after the silencing of weapons of war.
Bitter truth is that the country’s ethnic problem is still left unresolved as the post-independence Sinhala-Buddhist governments missed many opportunities to accommodate the minority Tamil-speaking population.
With post-war governments’ refusal to take responsibility for these losses left an indelible scar on the families of the victims. Today the situation has deteriorated to the point where many countries in the world, including the United Nations, are having a direct impact on Sri Lankan politics.
The government facing moves on war accountability in the joint series of the United Nations Human Rights Council, has informed them they cannot comply and respond accordingly. It is very likely that United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will inform United Nations (UN) to look for other means to end this dead lock.
It is in this scenario, to create awareness among its people, the social organizations of the Tamil people of the North East were called to attend the rally from Pothuvil extended to Polikandy and support was extended by the Tamil National Parties and was welcomed by all Tamil speaking communities in the country.
In addition, the Tamil National Parties, along with a number of social organizations, submitted their demands for the forthcoming joint session of the UNHRC.
The Tamil speaking people must accept reality, that today despite many attempts the ethnic issue is still not resolved. Tamils operating in multiple groups, with different purposes, has helped the rulers in the past to divide and rule. A change of mind from Tamil-speaking people is needed if they are to realize their national dream. It is achievable, only if all the Tamil-speaking people, without any party affiliation work as one unit, accepting others as equal.
Northern Breeze 