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H I S T O R Y O F T A M I L S
- 1. Sri Lanka: One Island, Two Nations Presentation for: Tamil Americans and Friends (TAaF)
- 4. History Two different nations from a very ancient period have divided between them the possession of the Island. First the Sinhalese, inhabiting the interior of the country in its Southern and Western parts, and secondly the Malabars (Tamils) who possess the Northern and Eastern Districts. These two nations differ entirely in their religion, language and manners . The Cleghorn Minute In 1799 June, Sir Hugh Cleghorn, the first British Colonial Secretary wrote to the British Government… “ ”
- 7. THE PROBLEM Three Fundamental Elements
- 12. TAMIL POLITICAL ACTION NON-VIOLENCE (1948 – 1976) Tamils Response to State Discrimination:
- 13. TAMIL POLITICAL ACTION Tamil Political Leaders protested against the “Sinhala only Act”, in front of the parliament (5 June 1956) Sinhalese assaulted the picketers and the attack spread the whole island. NON-VIOLENCE
- 14. School Girls Marching against ethnic based standardization (1972) TAMIL POLITICAL ACTION NON-VIOLENCE
- 16. Systematic Genocide of Tamils 1956.. 1958.. 1961.. 1974.. 1977.. 1979.. 1981.. 1983.. .. 2008 Anti-Tamil Pogrom 1983 Government sponsored Sinhala Thugs tortured a Tamil Man, then poured gasoline on him and burnt him alive (July 1983)
- 17. TURNING POINT - 1976 TAMIL POLITICAL ACTION: NON-VIOLENCE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE : VIOLENCE
- 21. TAMIL NATIONAL MILITARY (LTTE) Today, a Conventional Tamil Armed Force. (Ground Forces, Naval Force, Air Force, Police, Intelligence Service)
- 22. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING 2002 Ceasefire Monitored by Scandinavian Countries (Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission - SLMM) Direct Dialogue Facilitated By the Royal Norwegian Government
- 27. Supported by Extremist Buddhist Monks Party (JHU), view Srilanka as a Sinhala-Buddhist nation, Burning Norway Flag Associated Press Photo November 2005 November 2005 Election of President Rajapakse
- 29. Violence after Election of President Rajapakse Targeted Killing of Tamil Civilians Mother raped and killed. Children brutalized and Hanged. Father forced to see all these, and shot dead. ( Venkalai, 9 June 2006)
- 32. US Foreign Policy & Role Toward Sri Lanka and Tamils
- 34. The USA had placed LTTE on the FTO list R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, (Colombo, Sri Lanka - January 23, 2006) We brand LTTE as terrorist organization for using violence as a ‘political weapon’. But the Tamil population has legitimate grievances, and they must be respected by the majority population, and there has to be a way for the Tamils to be able to articulate those grievances. I must say that this long conflict is only going to come to an end when the LTTE and the government sit down and find a way forward to end this conflict. “ ”
- 37. US GOVERNMENT Mr. Richard Boucher Assistant US Secretary of State [Colombo; 26 June 2006] Though we reject the methods that the Tamil Tigers have used, there are legitimate issues raised by the Tamil community and they have a very legitimate desire, as anybody would, to control their own lives, to rule their own destinies, and to govern themselves in their homeland, in the areas they’ve traditionally inhabited. - “ ”
- 46. Kosovo & Tamil Eelam What is good for Kosovo is good for Tamil Eelam
- 48. Thank You! Voice of Tamils from the Land of Liberty
Editor's Notes
- Just after 3 years British took over the island, the first British Colonial Secretary wrote to the British Government that there were two nations in this island.
- Points to make: British brought the unitary state for administrative ease (1815) When the British Left in 1948, left it as a unitary rule – favoring the Majority
- Points to Make: Even the Sri Lankan Supreme Court has ruled against Tamils - Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure (PTOMS) - designed by the international donor nations (2005) - NorthEast de-merger ruling (2006)
- Points to make: Unitary rule does not work because: 77 % of the population is Sinhalese - 14 % Tamils. 225 Parliamentarians – 25 Tamil (9%) – No voice in the Parliament 60 ministers – (Only one is Tamil) – always appointed by the president namesake Tamil – his portfolio is not significant. 200,000 +.. Armed Forces… Only less than 1 % is Tamils. .. More than 99% of it is Sinhalease. Though claimed as a democratic system – constitution does not provide guarantees for the minority rights.
- Centralized unitary government didn’t work work, when rights of the minority is violated – the system fails. Institutional discrimination against Tamils through laws. - citizenship act (1948) - language act (1956) - Buddhism declared state religion in the new constitution in 1971 - education/employment/development – Tamils neglected - demographic change in East of Sri Lanka by planned colonization by Sinhalese since independence
- The Sinhala oppressions started right after the British left in 1948. Our political actions have been peaceful – Non-Violence – following Gandian principles.
- Tamil party leaders – disagreeing with government policies on Tamils More details of those days…
- Example:
- Organized Sihala thugs: Example: Methodically picking the Tamil names from nation voter list to Kill Tamils Government sponsored attack on Tamil businesses and Residence Give a brief History.. Starting from 1956….. Government Security forces – More than 99% SL forces are sinhalese. Tamils (Less than 1%) in the forces are restricted to admin duties
- An Example: Sihala Thugs sponsored by the Government torturing a Tamil Man in 1983. After torturing him, they poured gasoline on him and burnt him alive
- Deciding that the only real solution to protect ourselves is by self determination – in an all Tamil Party conference brought the resolution This was put in a referendum in the 1977 general elections Over 90% of the tamils voted to uphold the resolution Immediately following the election – The government’s response was yet another genocidal violence against the Tamils in the south Sinhala leaders made public statements encouraging the violence Youth armed rebellion Primary form of defense against Sinhala Atrocities – focused against the Govt Security forces
- Points to make: Started in 1972 and gained momentum by 1976, and again in 1983. Today, a formidable Tamil national conventional Military of , Army, Navy and Air force, Police, Intelligence Services – The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE)
- Fast forwarding several years – Recent Developments: SL Government and LTTE – agrees on a Ceasefire in 2002.
- This was signed by both parties in front of international facilitators headed by the Norwegian Government. Richard Armitage assistant sece of state – south asia was also present.
- Broken Agreements: Give a very brief detail about these 5 agreements.
- Point to make: Let’s not forget what his campaign platform was…
- Rajapakse – supported by the Buddhist Clergy The Buddhist monks in SL – not necessarily role models for the Buddhists of the world Burning the Norwegian flag in front of their embassy in Colombo, while the police are watching and possibly encouraging Just because Norway is facilitating a Peace treaty…
- Targeting Tamils leaders, intellectual and business people, Journalists Selective killing of the Tamil notables is the Govt’s grand plan of slowly but surely wiping the Tamils out from SL The French NGO requested the SLMM to help them search for the missing workers but the SLMM was denied access to the area Few days later the 17 workers were found shot dead – execution style The chief of SLMM reflects…
- A small example of recent violence by the Rajapakse Govt: Mother raped – Children brutalized and Hanged, Father forced to see all these before he was shot dead.
- Another Incident: Give brief detail about the Sencholai Attack.
- Points to Say: This 5000 people has been killed after Rajapaksa elected.
- Points to make: This measure does not related to National Security: This is just a policy issue. The US authorities clearly know that the LTTE was, or is, or will never be a threat to the USA or to the western world.
- We want the US government to stop all kinds of Military assistance including intelligence to Sri Lanka, under any program. When financial aid is given for developments, ensure funds are distributed to all regions including North-East. Funds are not used for military purposes, at all. Be just in making public statements – Recognize the issues of both sides. When civilians are killed condemnations should be for all civilians killed. don’t be one-sided Stop Quiet diplomacy and get involve directly: Open dialog with both parties. Treat both parties openly and with fairness.
- We also have other Representatives in the US congress who express their strong support to a just solution for Tamil people in Sri Lanka. OH – Sherrod Brown (He is now a Senator) NC – David Price IL – Danny Davis – visited Vanni District in North SL on a personal capacity
- Point to Make: In this case, the USA should support the Tamils’ struggle for Freedom, in the same way it support the People of Kosovo.
- Points to Make: If the LTTE remain in the FTO list, the US government cannot persuade or put pressure on the Sri Lankan government to negotiate with the Tigers. US wouldn’t have any moral rights to tell the SL to talk with the LTTE, when US itself considers the LTTE as a Terrorist. If the LTTE remain in the FTO list, US is compelled to help the SL government in it's "war on terrorism". So, the SL government would be encouraged to conduct the war and cause more Human Rights Violations. The SL government would have the moral and military support to conduct the war. it would never go for peace talks. If the LTTE remain in the FTO list, US cannot come to a direct/indirect, or official/unofficial understanding with the LTTE. If there is no mutual understanding with the LTTE, the USA wouldn’t be able to play a productive diplomatic role. Last, but not least: When US authorities and intelligence services have no credible evidence that the LTTE was, or is, or will ever be a threat to the USA or to the western world. So, why spend money and waste resources on containing the LTTE, instead of spending them on the real "war on REAL terror"?.. Why weaken already-suffering Tamil people and make them suffer more?... The SL government not does not respect the Western world, and is associating itself with the anti-US powers, such as China, Iran and Russia. In this backdrop, instead of removing the LTTE from the FTO list and help the Tamil people, who have always been friendly with the western world, why the US wants to see the Tamils as terrorists and disassociate with them?