Far sighted move
The decision taken by
President Mahinda Rajapaksa to appoint a Special Committee
comprising members of Tamil political parties to look into the
problems of the Tamil community is timely. The proposed
Committee will be particularly entrusted to look into problems
and issues confronting the people in the North.
It goes without saying that it is only members of a
particular community that are capable of identifying the true
nature of the problems and issues faced by its own community.
Similarly, it is only members of the Tamil community who will be
more attuned with the wants and requirements of its community
and are able to go into the core of problems and issues endemic
to the Tamil community.
Even during the British times, the colonial rulers appointed
Sinhala Commissions to look into grievances of the majority
community when the necessity arose. True, the Sinhala and Tamil
communities have lived side by side for thousands of years and
share common ground in many areas. But there are distinct
divergences that separate the communities. These can be related
to and identified only by members of the respective communities.
It is here that the appointment of a Committee as the one
proposed by the President could go a long way in sorting out
matters. Because the problems of the Tamil community have today,
expanded and snowballed to embrace many spheres. These are far
removed from the problems and issues they faced three decades
ago. These problems now embrace not only their bodily needs or
are merely in the realms of the cultural and the spiritual or
alleged discrimination on the basis of race and langauge. The
problem now relates to their very survival as seen from the
harrowing footage of fleeing civilians on television. The
Committee of Tamil political leaders will be the most eminently
suitable to pinpoint and identify the requirements of the
community as well as their fears and anxieties.
We are not yet aware of the shape this Committee will take or
its mandate. But it is reasonable to infer that Committee will
have a huge role to play in regard to the displaced civilians in
the North. Ideally, they would function as the main conduit
between the civilian population and the authorities to sort out
any controversial issues.
The Committee is perhaps the first of its kind appointed to
identify the specific problems of the Tamil community. The need
for such a body in the post-war recovery cannot be
overemphasized .
This is also the first time that a Committee of Tamil
politicians will be appointed to look into the problems of their
own community independently, devoid of politics. From the
composition of the Committee, it is clear that Tamils can expect
their problems to be addressed with diligence and dispatch.
Ideally the inclusion of TNA representation would have been
welcome. But that party had been repeatedly boycotting
invitations by the President to address problems confronting the
Tamils.It is also important that the Committee functions as a
cohesive unit where there is convergence of ideas as regards
finding solutions to problems of the Tamil community. We say
this because certain bodies in the past came a cropper due to
the absence of unanimity. This Committee appointed by the
President cannot afford such luxuries because of the
overwhelming task before them.
There should be frequent review meetings by the Committee of
the data compiled and specific areas that need special attention
with proper feedback to the President for follow up action. This
Committee appointed by the President no doubt would also go a
long way to help heal the sense of alienation felt by the Tamils
towards their Sinhala brethren that have also been exacerbated
by the unprecedented military victories. Although the war was
waged against terrorists and not the Tamil people as frequently
expounded by President Rajapaksa, it is only natural that some
vestiges of remorse and bitterness linger in Tamil minds however
irrational.
Now with the appointment of a Committee comprising members of
their own community to directly deal with them, there is bound
to be a rapport forged with the President and by extension the
majority community ridding them from their sense of isolation.
It will be up to the Committee to drive home the point to the
community of the President's genuine call for reconciliation and
of his oft repeated entreaties that Tamils are as much his
brothers and sisters as their Sinhala brethren of the South. |