‘Don’t impede Sri Lanka’s progress’

Following is the text of letter written by a Lankan
Tamil to the US political leadership
10.03.2012

Dear President of USA,
Ambassador of USA for Sri Lanka and other Americans,

I’m writing this letter to you with lot of pain in my mind caused by your country’s resolution at the UNHRC sessions. I’m a Tamil. I lived in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka till 1996. I have a good knowledge of the problems faced by the Tamils. I wish to let you know that our life had improved tremendously after the end of the war. In the name of Justice and in the name of God I wish that your country does not impede the progress that is being made to bring peace and unity among the different ethnic groups in Sri Lanka.

I always wonder how the government tolerates the unfair anti-government attitude of the Tamil media and the utterances of the Tamil politicians who mislead the gullible Tamils and the International community with distorted facts. But it shows the respect given to democracy by our government. I know your country is the most powerful democratic country in the world with high regard for democracy. I’m afraid that you are misled by the supporters and members of the LTTE living in foreign countries and the leading members of the Tamil National Alliance Party (voice of the LTTE) who do not live among the people whom they represent. In 1949, Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (the main constituent party in the TNA) declared that a Tamil state should be formed in the North and the East of Sri Lanka. Since that day we were undergoing various forms of sufferings.

The vociferous speeches and the actions of Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi in the North had unpleasant impact in the South. There were discriminations against Tamils. There were excesses by the security forces against Tamils. The most horrendous was the riots sponsored by the UNP government against the Tamils in 1983.

The most dreadful period for Tamils was the 30 years the constituent parties in the TNA, LTTE and other Tamil armed youths kept Tamils under their control before the end of the war in May 2009. Tamils didn’t have even their basic human rights during that period. There were burglaries, bank robberies, confiscation of properties and vehicles, murders, light post killings, torture and keeping in the bunkers following judgments made by young boys. The political leaders opposed to the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi were murdered (Ex MP and Mayor of Jaffna was shot while worshiping at a Hindu Temple, Ex Vaddukoddai who defeated Tamil United Liberation Front was also shot dead).The government officers had to work under the direction of the boys. There was no respect for the age or the status. All the facilities in the area were destroyed by the boys. eg electricity by destroying the transformers, railway stations were damaged and the tracks were removed, a Coopereative hospital at Vallai was bombed off by them.

The present government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa had liberated us. The darkest period in our life had come to an end. Considering the ground situation we are grateful to his government. I have conscience. I am daily praying for the long life of our President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his government though I have not got any personal favours from him.

He doesn’t even know me. We, Tamils have to live with Sinhalese and Muslims in Sri Lanka. There should be good will. Those Tamils who are eager to live in the developed foreign countries can stoop down to any level. But decent Tamils with conscience who can’t tell lies have to live in Sri Lanka with other communities. We want peace and live as patriotic Sri Lankans. Let sanity prevail. Please leave us alone.

It should be noted that the TNA got the support of only about 10.8 percent in the North and 12.7 percent in the East, of the registered voters. In the country as a whole it is 1.7 percent. So can you listen to them? Can you TRUST them? Tamils who know the truth will not open their mouth because of the fear psychosis instilled by the armed Tamil youth. A Tamil who speaks the truth that is favourable to the government is considered as a TRAITOR among the Tamils.

Thank you

P. Sivapalan
Dr P. Sivapalan.
(Cc to UNHRC, Secretary General UNO)