Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

04 April 2017

Friend or Relative?

A Sri Lankan visitor to Australia once said that only he knew why he was doing what he was doing. This to my mind was said to me because I disciplined the person saying that I would not tolerate words and actions that damaged the system I had developed within my Australian territory and known to be so by the other side. But often when people do not attribute credit to a person / structure there is no memory of the source from which they derive their current benefits. It is for this reason that we have family and institutional positions and structures formed by such positions. The problem with the above person was the confusion he had as to whether he was relative or friend? I had similar issues at the Australian workplace. I find that this is also the case with some Indian Tamil Political Leaders. As per latest news under the heading ‘MDMK chief Vaiko sent to judicial custody for pro-LTTE speech’:

[Chennai: A Chennai court sent Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) chief Vaiko to 15 days’ judicial custody on Monday for speaking in favour of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009.

Vaiko, who has been seeking early disposal of the pending case, surrendered before the court on Monday and refused to apply for bail. Consequently, the magistrate had to remand a judicial custody.

The MDMK leader who had been supporting the cause of Tamil Eelam (independent state for Tamils in Sri Lanka), in a public meeting in 2008, had alleged that the Union government was aiding the Sri Lankan government and warned that India would not remain a single country if the war against LTTE in the neighbouring country was not stopped.

The Chennai police in 2009 booked him for charges including the Section 124 A (sedition) and 13(1)b of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2004.

Tamil Nadu had witnessed widespread protests in 2008-09 during the last phase of Sri Lankan civil war and had asked the Central government to intervene to stop the war in the neighbouring island nation] Live Mint

The question we need to ask is whether Mr. Vaiko as an Indian Politician is a relative or friend of  the LTTE? It is important to remember that recently Mr. Vaiko also opposed the proposed visit by actor Rajinikanth to be the chief guest at the housing project ceremony organized  by Lycamobile whose owner is of Sri Lankan origin. That opposition was valid within his position as chief of a  Tamil Political Party in India. But there is no such position in terms of ‘telling’ Indian Union Government that India would not remain single country if it did not act one way or the other.

This kind of divisive mentality develops when one driven by quick outcomes is disconnected with the source of her/his status. In the case of the above Sri Lankan visitor – the most respected person in that branch of the family is that person’s father. One who disrespects that father and/or another person whom that father respected disconnects with the source of that relationship based power. In Mr. Vaiko’s case, the source of his current political position is the Union Government. If the Union Government and/or the Sri Lankan Government that is shown to be respected by the Union Government is disrespected by Mr. Vaiko – he loses the power of the source. To be like Gandhi, Mr. Vaiko must first set aside his official position which is part of the Indian Political Structure. One driven by Truth would do so and become an ordinary citizen and earns the deservedness to be supported by the Truth of other ordinary citizens. The fundamental value of Democracy and election of leader by the ordinary people is this power of Truth. A democratic leader has to become humble to share in the Truth of her/his People. As a Service provider s/he must have the respect of the beneficiaries – as parents need with their children, during grooming stages. One who shares through common belief does not need ‘shows of respect’ and one is within a structure has the responsibility to show respect where s/he is beneficiary of another’s contribution to the official position. Where there is common belief – both have the same experience.

If Mr. Vaiko had renounced the benefits of his relationship with the Indian Government through the State Government  his Truth would have sustained him and also benefited other investors in the issue – especially Sri Lankan Tamils. Those ‘free’ of official portfolios would represent each other as Equals. Hence the Commonness through sacrifice of earned benefits. Like friends – they are there for each other and protect themselves from ‘outsiders’ to that friendship and these outsiders may  include parents. Those who so attack – disconnect with the very source of the power through which they were juniors / minorities

To vast majority Sri Lankan Tamils, the Sri Lankan Government is a senior  relative. To those who attacked the Government the Government is a junior or equal  relative. Junior relatives have the authority to resist seniors through due processes of the common structure to protect their own positions. But they do not have the right to take senior positions through appointment - including self-appointment. They could be elected by a group as their Representative – as in Democracy. The LTTE was not elected by the People. Mr. Vaiko was. They are not equal relatives in Democracy.  Vaiko was merely a friend and not a relative to LTTE leader. When the two are  indiscriminately mixed they create disorder and mental illness. When the people are idle the leaders create autocracy in the name of defending democracy.  

.As per current news reports, Mr. Ravi Jayawardene,  the son of  the first Executive President of Sri Lanka has passed away at the age of 80.

As per ‘news first’ report:

[Ravi Jayawardene who was the founder of the Police Special Task Force, was also a specialist in defence. Late Ravi Jayawardene worked as the Security Advisor to President J. R. Jayawardene, during the UNP regime of 1980 and he was also employed as a pilot for SriLanka Airlines]

As per Police Lanka report on this Special Task Force (STF):

This outfit was first deployed in the North to provide security to the Police Stations and to assist the Police to counter the terrorist threats. A section of this Unit was deployed in July 1983 to provide security in Wellawatte during the communal riots known as "Black July". The remaining personnel, who were serving in the North, were deployed in Point Pedro, Velvettiturai and Kankesanturai Police Stations in Jaffna District. 

Wellawatte is Colombo 6 and is known as Tamil area. Given that the July riots in Colombo was against the LTTE by the Sinhalese, the logical pathway would have led to Tamil Police being employed in Colombo’s Tamil areas. If there were not enough Tamils within the Police Force – the Common Sri Lankan Police ought to have been deployed. STF was specially trained against LTTE. The borders of LTTE were forgotten and hence the attack on civilians – causing much harm. One who indiscriminately mixes family with workplace would tend to take the easy pathway of family and lose connection with the source of official power.  Until those in junior positions learn to  protect their sovereignty by staying within their position borders,  the path of democracy gets blocked at the entrance to Government.

If STF had shared Common Belief with Tamils – they would have included the LTTE as part  of themselves. Those without common belief are not of one family, community. Given that the STF was formed in 1980 and the LTTE sent the bodies of slain soldiers of the Government in July 1983 – one needs to ask as to who started the war? The above pattern confirms that the causal forces included the STF and that they did so for opportunity to ‘fight’ Tamils indiscriminately. This karma continued to produce the outcomes of 2009 war and with it the war-crimes accusations. It will continue until Truth is given form including through the Constitution.

As per Daily Mirror report ‘Broad agreement on power devolution’, released around the same time as the above report about the son of the first Executive President:

[Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran, who is privy to the Constitution making process, said there were areas already agreed upon.

“We decided to go ahead and finalise the interim report on that matters that have been agreed,” he said.

The Steering Committee has two full rounds of discussion on power devolution.

Mr. Sumanthiran said the Committee would meet on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for further discussions on areas with consensus and work out the report.

“The matters still under discussion will be kept back,” he said.

However, he said Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was not for the full abolition of executive presidency, and therefore it would be a matter for discussion later on.

“It is not opposed to the inclusion of devolution matters in the interim report,” he said. ]

Without the abolition of the Executive Presidency Sri Lankans who are yet to invest in true democracy would continue to invoke majority power in Administration and limit their mind-structures to their local areas. Their produce will not naturally be attractive to customers in wider markets. Hence, Mr. Sumanthiran’s previous message that ‘ The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) confirmed that they would guarantee a significant contribution from the Diaspora in terms of investments in the country’s economy, if the new Constitution solved the Tamil issue and restored confidence in Sri Lanka’   is already proven to be baseless. Like Mr. Vaiko, the Diaspora that ‘waits’ is demonstrating takeover mentality.