Daily News - Thursday 21, October 1999

Sinhala Veera Vidahanaya and the minorities

Over the past several months there has been an easily recognizable resurgence of 'national mindedness' among the Sinhalese and Buddhists which has caused some anxiety and apprehension among the minority communities. It is worth examining the causes for this resurgence and the people responsible for it. As a retired government servant belonging to a minority community (Tamil) who had lived and worked with the Sinhalese for over four decades I feel I can write confidently about the psyche of the Sinhalese and more particularly the Buddhists. I should add that I have also traveled extensively in the West to know about their lifestyles, their attitudes and perceptions etc.

I also watch the audiovisual media almost daily to update myself about current affairs, international politics etc. The way that international political interaction takes place, globalization of the economy, the role of the multinational companies, the unfair and unjust pressures and dictates of international money lending organizations, the emergence of Islam as a political force in counties like Afghanistan, Pakistan and the old USSR make me very apprehensive about the future of this country.

As a Sri Lanka and a much travelled Tamil I must at the very outset say that I would never leave this country for another as long as I remain in possession of a rational mind. I must not and cannot forget the fact that it is the Sinhalese and the Buddhists who constitute the majority who make this country what it is a most hospitable, welcome and congenial place to live in. If not for them this country would never be Sri Lanka! If this country had a Tamil Hindu majority like in South India or a Muslim majority as in a Middle-East country I would never opt for such a country as a domicile. I have a strong feeling that the majority of the Tamils and Muslims living in the South would think the same. The country that I count as my home should always have a Sinhala Buddhist majority with their pacifist, tolerant and friendly ways. If somebody were to say that these qualities are found wanting among the Sinhala Buddhists today it is not because of their fault but the fault of the minorities who have abused their kindness and hospitality and have made many unfair and unreasonable demands from them.

To elaborate a little further on this subject one has to look at other countries to see how they treat the minorities in those countries. Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country which has legislation favouring the 'Bhumi-puthras' in employment, education etc. In Afghanistan one reads about the horrendous desecration of ancient Buddhist statues such as those found in the Baamiyan valley by the Taleban who now control 90% of the country.

What would our plight be if we were to live in such a country! As Tamils how many of us would dare to condemn the numerous atrocities committed by the LTTE against civilians in the South. We are only too keen to complain about being searched at checkpoints, raiding of lodges etc. How many have been apprehended for trying to smuggle arms and ammunition into the South concealed in fish lorries, official vehicles of GA's ICRC etc.

Even the traditional pot of curd has been used to transport ammunition! Old ladies and gentlemen too have acted as couriers as they are generally treated with respect!! How many Tamils have worked themselves diligently into the trust and confidence of the government and the Sinhalese community and then betrayed them by being agents of the LTTE? These instances are far too numerous to mention. If the Tamils were the majority community in this country would they have tolerated a fraction of these betrayals from a minority community? I as a Tamil can boldly say 'Never'! How many of our leading Tamil politicians like Messrs. Ponnambalam and Thondaman have exhorted the Tamils not to engage or indulge in such activities as smuggling arms and ammunition into upcountry areas or to Colombo? On the contrary they will make an internationally heard din about 'innocent' Tamils being harassed as if 'innocent' Tamils have a label on them proclaiming their innocence! At the same time I cannot help feeling ashamed and disgraced by our Tamil brethren whenever they are successful in attempts at destroying innocent civilian life in the South. I am deeply appreciative of the tolerance and kindness shown by the Sinhalese in the South when they have to accommodate displaced Tamils and Muslims as refugees among them. How despicable it is to bite the hand that feeds them! The botched attempts to take over temple land at Dighavapiya and the request to set aside a percentage in premier Buddhist schools for other religions are other sinister attempts to get the maximum out of a government which is bending backwards to please minorities in order to please foreign funded peace mongers and local NGO's who are in their pay. Where in the world do we hear national anthems being sung in different languages! Why cannot we minorities be satisfied with the lion flag as it is? Can such frivolous but yet provocative requests be made in any country where Tamils or Muslims are in the majority! Should minorities always behave like Shylocks asking for their pound of flesh and run the risk of alienating a hitherto unsuspecting and tolerant Sinhalese? Though a Hindu I would like to dissociate myself from the antics of those Hindus who want a temple in Sita-Eliya and another in Ja-Ela area built at these times when understanding between communities is at low ebb. It will do no good to anybody but can be the target of mischief or provocative acts by interested parties or misguided individuals.

Another frequently quoted argument is that by redressing the legitimate grievances of the Tamils in the North and East the LTTE would have no cause to espouse and the support base of the LTTE would be completely destroyed.

This is a very naive argument: just as much as the JVP in the South had no public support but only terror tactics to frighten the people into submission in the late eighties, so is the LTTE. If not for their terror tactics no same Tamil would support them either here or abroad. Their 'sustenance' is not from the public but from the largesse delivered to their doorstep by errant, corrupt or frightened government officials or diverted from sources meant for the public. To be honest, I am personally aware of Hindu and Catholic priests who openly support the LTTE either out of fear or misguided fervour.

Finally, I wish to state that Sri Lanka is the only country in the world where Sinhalese can call their home and where Theravada Buddhism is found.

It is their birthplace and their birthright to remain as a majority community while others at various times have shown that their loyalties are divided. The situation today is such that a Sinhalese or Muslim student cannot enter the precincts of the Jaffna University whereas Tamil students can freely go about in the South. The police while carrying out their legitimate duties of looking out for LTTE suspects in the estate sector run the risk of incurring the wrath of Mr. Thondaman even when terrorist activities are taking place in the estates. He has the audacity to place the blame of such activities on the Sinhalese when his conscience should say otherwise-but does he have one? These are the activities that promote the Sinhalese to close their ranks and show their displeasure. I sincerely hope that the PA government will not swallow the bait offered by scheming and self-serving politicians that would surely and certainly lead to communal strife in the not too distant future.

V. GNANASEGARAM -Dehiwala