Accept Indian Federal solution, Sangaree tells JVP
COLOMBO: TULF leader V. Anandasangaree yesterday appealed to
the JVP to reconsider its stand on the ethnic issue and be amenable to a
Federal solution based on the Indian model.
"Let us not by our words and deeds strengthen the LTTE. Instead, we
must endeavour to weaken them which is only possible by the country
offering a reasonable solution for our ethnic problem," Anandasangaree
said in a letter addressed to the JVP.
The letter said:
"Since I am more perturbed than even before over the atrocious
activities of the LTTE which is increasing day by day, I decided to make
one more appeal to you, perhaps the final one, to reconsider your stand
on the ethnic issue. I am convinced that only the JVP has the solution
to our problem.
As one who lived through this troubled period of 50 years, having
seen and experienced several bitter incidents, many of which though
still fresh in my memory, but reluctant to spell out, I will not expect
a Tamil or a Muslim from the North and the East, to accept a solution in
a unitary constitution.
The Tamils are prepared to give up the demand for a separate state
and agree for a solution within a united Sri Lanka. Everyone in this
country is yearning for peace. The country is prepared for a Federal
Solution and is prepared to accept the Indian model as an alternative.
Let not the future generation curse us for failure to find a solution,
when very good opportunities came on the way.
What the LTTE did for the poor peasants of Muttur is most inhuman and
cruel. Apart from refusing water for their crops at the most crucial
time and causing them great financial losses, the sufferings the
displaced persons underwent with their children, the elders, the sick
and the disabled are beyond one's imaginations.
Without even food and water to drink, leaving behind almost all their
belongings, many even without spare cloths, walked several miles in
search of food and shelter. It is not that easy for even the Government
to find the minimum urgent requirements for 30,000-40,000 people.
As human beings we understand and feel for the poor people who are
subjected to all these hardships, for no fault of theirs. They lost
their dear ones for whose fault we don't know. They lost all their
belongings for the fault of a hand full of brainless men who call
themselves freedom fighters. The LTTE has no business to subject our
people for this type of terror and tension.
These are only signals for all of us to be prepared to meet the
challenge of a handful of armed terrorist who do not have any feelings
what so ever for the innocent people. This is the time for the
Sinhalese, Muslims and Tamils living in the South to go all out to
liberate the Tamils of the North and the East living under subjugation
of the LTTE.
If this is the fate of free people living in free areas one can
imagine what amount of terror the LTTE cadre can cause to our people who
are ruled by them, in areas under their control.
Let no one at this stage talk of doctrines. Let us at this juncture
not blame each other. Let all us in one voice condemn the LTTE as a
ruthless terrorist organisation and get together to find ways and means
of finding a solution. Let us not, by our words and deeds strengthen the
LTTE.
Instead we must endeavour to weaken them which is only possible by
the country offering a reasonable solution for our ethnic problem.
The JVP should without sticking firmly to its policy, come down at
least out of sympathy for the kith and kin of the thousands and
thousands of innocent Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims killed by the LTTE
in the war front, by clay-more mine and hand grenade attacks brutally
hacking and torturing to death.
It is wrong to classify me as a brave or proponent of democracy for
the Tamils now under the totalitarian dictatorship of one man
Prabhakaran. I had never failed to defend the cause of the Sinhalese and
the Muslims as well. The urge to do so is due to the love I have for my
country and its people and not due to bravery or courage that I have.
You are aware of the risk I am facing for taking this stand.
Although we of the TULF and the JVP have taken two different stands
on the National questions, our ultimate goal is the same. All the other
like minded forces will give full backing to achieve, as you say "total
democracy and total equality in the Sri Lankan Society."
I would not dare to question the right of anyone or any party for
taking a stand different from that of mine. Since our goal is the same,
I am only exploring the possibilities of finding an early solution to
the present crisis that will grant relief for our people; the Tamils,
Muslims and Sinhalese of the North and the East in particular. It is
they who are the worst affected.
They are the people most of whom lost everything and are living in
refugee camps for 10 to 15 years. The Muslims of the North who had lived
with us for many generations had to leave behind everything and was
permitted to take only rupees five hundred. They were not given even a
day's notice to leave. Even the ear-studs worn by children were removed.
Many lost their houses and lifetime savings.
Many lost their children in the battle front. Thousands are living on
the verge of starvation. Large number of their children are under-fed.
They have lost their culture and civilisation. Above all they have lost
their much cherished fundamental, human and democratic rights. Can't you
guess what they are now planning to do with the Muslims of Muttur?
The Sinhalese and the other communities in the South lost several
thousands of lives in the battle front and as victims of suicide
bombing, clay-more mine attacks, hand grenade attacks, bomb explosions
etc.
Widows and orphans had been created in large numbers on both sides.
Apart from these, the people in the South do their farming, go fishing,
children go to school regularly, trains and buses are running, their
culture and civilisation are in tact.
They lead their normal life. No one dares to interfere with their
fundamental and human rights. Above all democracy is thriving in all the
other areas expect in the North and the East. A Tamil or Muslim from the
North or East can come to Colombo and have a public meeting at the Galle
Face Green and attack the Government or anybody else. But in Jaffna, an
area supposed to be under the control of the Government, one will not
dare to utter one word against the LTTE. I wonder whether you are aware
of that.
We have 22 Members of Parliament whose qualifications if totalled up
will not come near to Dr. Ratnajeevan Hoole's academic achievements.
It is on the instructions of the LTTE, the TNA's Members of
Parliament have protested against his appointment as the Vice Chancellor
of the Jaffna University. Prabhakaran could not find one English
speaking person to go on the LTTE's team to Geneva as complained by
Anton Balasingham. Are you not aware of that?
This is the plight of the Tamils of the North and the East. Your
reference to the presence of more than half the population of Tamils in
other Provinces is misleading. I do not want to comment on that since I
treat all alike. Likewise your citing as example the Tamils of the North
and the East living in other provinces and those who fled the country
and living aborad also cannot be taken as examples.
These are temporary arrangements made initially to escape from the
forces and later to escape from the totalitarian rule of the LTTE and
are not supposed to be permanent. The older generation will be too happy
to come back to their original places of residence.
Everyone, loving his country of birth equally loves his places of
birth also. All those people displaced due to the war, will want to go
back to their soil. I like to go back to my birth place before I breath
my last. The Northern Muslims want to go back to their original places
of residence. Otherwise why are they languishing in refugee camps for
decades undergoing severe hardships and without any privacy?
Lot of things can be said for or against your stand. But that is not
the question now. One should know when you will achieve your 'ideal
state'? It may be 10 years hence or may not be even for another 50
years. In the meantime what do you want the tamils and the Muslims of
the North and the East to do. The worst is you had gone to Courts
wanting a demerger of the merged North-East Province.
Is it the most urgent issue the country is facing today? Have you
decided to handover the Tamils in the North to the LTTE's separate
state. I am sure this move will strengthen the LTTE.
People are forgetting their trade. They live like machines. They do
as they are asked by the LTTE to do. The university students, who should
be a source of strength to the people are acting as the LTTE's agents,
to harass them.
Some time back a university student, to earn a living. had loaded his
tractor with sand, available in plenty in the Amban Kudaththanai area.
The LTTE has illegal monopoly in sand mining even in the areas under
the control of the Government.
This poor university student was shot dead and was burnt with the
tractor, depriving his family of the bread winner and it's only source
of income. Not a single university student had the courage to condemn
this brutal act of the LTTE.
The schoolchildren are encouraged to defy the army. They are taught
to throw stones at the army. The civilians are falsely blamed by the
LTTE for planting claymore mines. The students are made to hoist Tigers
flags in areas under the control of the Government. Are these no matters
for serious consideration?
I very much welcome your 'ideal state' based on 'total democracy and
total equality in the Sri Lankan society'. When will we have it? Should
the Tamils and Muslims continue to live under the subjugation of the
LTTE till you achieve your goal.
Should the people continue to sacrifice their children to the LTTE?
Should the Tamils and Muslims continue to face all these till your
'ideal state' is formed? Should Sinhalese soldiers, children of poor
parents, lose their lives varying between two - 10 in numbers every day
to claymore attacks targetting the army, navy or police.
With them some innocent civilians also get killed. Many get injured
every day. Not a single protest is made by anybody against the killings
of innocent civilians. At least seven or eight claymore mine attacks
take place everyday and some civilians also fall victims.
I am one who was right from the beginning, opposed Federalism and
separation. In 1970, I defeated the Federal Party candidate at the
Kilinochchi electorate and entered Parliament. It is with the adoption
of the 1972 Constitution that we formed the Tamil United Front. Even at
that stage we did not support separation.
In 1976 although a resolution was passed at the Moolai convention to
fight for a separate state, soon after passing the resolution our
leaders told the then Government that "If a viable alternative to the
demand for Tamil Eelam is offered by the Government we will, if
satisfied, take it to the people and get their approval."
This was clearly mentioned in our election manifestos. The TULF even
accepted to run the District Development Councils although the
Government refused to rename them as District Councils.
The Banda-Chelva Pact was abrogated, followed by the abrogation of
the Dudley-Chelva pact. The District Development Councils failed,
followed by the failure of the Provincial Councils too. It is only after
the failure of all the said agreements that the Tamils lost hopes that
the Government will never find the solution to our problem.
What happened later, brought the country to this state. The issue was
taken over by the militants. Things would have been different today if
only the LTTE had not, one by one, attempted to eradicate the various
armed groups and thereby weaken themselves. They did the same to the
moderates and spared only a few who are now employed by them as Members
of Parliament to act as their proxies.
Of the TULF members spared by the LTTE, I am the only one whom they
could not employ as their proxy Member of Parliament. How long do you
think that I can cheat death? What is the guarantee that I will not be
reduced to pulp even before this letter reaches you.
I assure you that I am prepared to lay down my life to bring back
peace to our people who are getting frustrated day to day. Can't you
persuade your members to change their stand and agree for a solution
acceptable to very many of our people.
When will you achieve your 'ideal state'? Can the JVP give a deadline
before which, killings, extortions, conscriptions, torture, harassment
etc of the LTTE will be stopped by them. When will you stop the false
propaganda done by the LTTE all over the world against those who are
opposed to them.
When do you think you can prevent the random killings of sailors,
soldiers and policemen. What happened to Army Commander Major General
Sarath Fonseka and where is Parami Kulathunge? In short, how long does
the JVP want the people to continue to suffer in this manner. What is
the guarantee that some of these unpleasant incidents will not be
repeated in the future.
I am strongly of the view that irreparable damage will be caused to
Tamil and Muslim communities beyond rectification if the present
situation is allowed to prevail. The Mavilaru episode shows that the
Sinhalese peasants also will not be spared by the LTTE.
Since you concede that the solution to our problem is in the hands of
your party, I plead with you to review your decision at your central
committee or convention level. I also wish to have a dialogue with you.
If you give me a chance I am prepared to meet your Politburo or Central
Committee and discuss my proposal with them.
The JVP should not make a historical blunder in rejecting my proposal
which seems to be acceptable to very many political parties,
individuals, organisations and high religious dignitaries of all faiths.
I also met and discussed my proposal with the Asgiriya Parshaveya
Mahanayake Most Venerable Udugama Sri Buddharakkita and Malwatu
Parshaveya Mahanayake Most Venerable Tibbotuwawe Sumangala both of whom
told me that they will not object to any solution within a United Sri
Lanka. Most people are opposed to a division of the country.
If given a free hand, the President will be free to draft a
constitution like that of the Indian model which is neither unitary nor
federal, and offer it to the LTTE with the recommendation of the
international community for them to pressurise the LTTE for its
acceptance.
The international community will never want to get the blame that
they suppressed the genuine struggle of the minority communities without
getting the Government to reciprocally offer a solution acceptable to
the Tamils and Muslims.
That is why in the EU countries and in some others where LTTE is
banned, their supporters met and had several protests meetings against
the ban imposed on the LTTE.
With all respect to you and to your high ideals, I wish to
categorically state that the Tamils and I hope the Muslims too, will
never agree for a solution under the Unitary constitution within which,
during the past 50 years no solution was found.
Even if the LTTE is completely eradicated the Tamils can never be
compelled or persuaded to accept a solution under the unitary system.
I am neither a stooge nor a paid agent of anybody to try to insist on
the Indian Model as a solution to our problem. I have some convincing
reasons for thinking so. I could also convince very many during the last
two years. Any right thinking person should see some reason in what I
say.
First of all India is the largest Democracy in the world and with a
majority Hindu population. In spite of the immense trouble it is facing
with Muslim terrorists within and with strained feelings with some
neighbouring countries, a Muslim is the head of the state who is very
much loved and well respected by all Indians.
Secondly although the Sikh community which form only two per cent of
the population of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh is the Prime Minister of
India who is very much loved and well respected in India. Thirdly the
Chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance and the one who
has the honour of declining to accept the Prime Ministership of India is
a naturalised citizen very much loved and well respected by most
Indians.
We Sri Lankans have a lot to learn from the Indians who were
responsible for selecting these three persons for the high positions
they hold in India.
Among may others, our languages, religions and culture are all of
Indian origin and our ancestors were all from India. If we could call
our old constitution as the Westminister type. I don't see any reason as
to why we can't adopt an Indian model. Further more being neither
Federal nor Unitary that will satisfy those who are opposed to the use
of the words Federal and Unitary.
Although we don't need anybody's approval to draft and adopt a
constitution of our own, the Tamil Nadu factor cannot be ignored because
there are few minor political parties in India that blindly support the
LTTE's Eelam.
The mere mention of the words "Indian model" will silence everyone
because no one will have any moral right to ask for more powers for the
Sri Lankan Regions than what they themselves have in their respective
states including Tamil Nadu.
Above all there is an overall guarantee that India will never support
a division of Sri Lanka and will continue to insist on a solution within
the United Sri Lanka. Neither the LTTE nor any other radical group can
object to this solution in the present situation.
I shall be very thankful to you if you all could kindly take up this
matter for serious consideration. With your acceptance of my proposal,
thousands of lives and many other losses of the individuals and of the
country can be saved and peace brought in without any delay.
All my suggestions are made with honest and sincere intentions.
Whether to take it or to leave it is in your hands." |