Gajalakshmi
Paramasivam – 31 May 2015
How No Terrorism means Yes Terrorism
As per the Times of India under the heading ‘Rajapaksa fears LTTE revival in Sri Lanka’
[Former
Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is mounting a political comeback,
has expressed fears that the separatist Tamil Tigers could regroup and revive
terrorism in the country.
"We are glad that terrorists are no more. But I have a suspicion that we may return to see terrorism," Rajapaksa said.
"We don't want to see that happening we want everyone to live in peace and harmony," he told a religious gathering in the north central town of Anuradhapura yesterday. ]
"We are glad that terrorists are no more. But I have a suspicion that we may return to see terrorism," Rajapaksa said.
"We don't want to see that happening we want everyone to live in peace and harmony," he told a religious gathering in the north central town of Anuradhapura yesterday. ]
Like in the case of Rape discussed in
yesterday’s article - ‘Clean up Political Pollution before
expecting Equity in Law’ - politicians
think they are in free environment when they are in ‘Political mood’. Parliamentary
Elections are soon expected in Sri Lanka and hence this ‘free’ talk. If Terrorists are no more at the physical
level but the fear of return continues to exist – then Terrorism still exists
in Sri Lanka – certainly in the minds of Mr. Rajapaksa’s group. The Times of
India article gives us many clues as to the reasons why:
[Rajapaksa,
who led the Sri Lankan forces in the bloody victory over the Liberation Tigers
of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009, plans to contest parliamentary polls in another
bid to return to power.
He first won in 2005, surfed a wave of popularity among the Sinhala majority to win again in 2010. He then had the Constitution changed to allow the third term he hoped to win in January's poll.
But the veteran politician suffered a surprise defeat in snap presidential polls he called.
Rajapaksa's defeat to President Maithripala Sirisena came despite his popularity among the Sinhala Buddhist majority.
Sirisena received wide support from minority Tamils and Muslims with sizable support from the Sinhalese, who were fed up with Rajapaksa's authoritarian rule.
Rajapaksa, in order to shore up the Sinhala Buddhist support, has often visited Buddhist temples.]
He first won in 2005, surfed a wave of popularity among the Sinhala majority to win again in 2010. He then had the Constitution changed to allow the third term he hoped to win in January's poll.
But the veteran politician suffered a surprise defeat in snap presidential polls he called.
Rajapaksa's defeat to President Maithripala Sirisena came despite his popularity among the Sinhala Buddhist majority.
Sirisena received wide support from minority Tamils and Muslims with sizable support from the Sinhalese, who were fed up with Rajapaksa's authoritarian rule.
Rajapaksa, in order to shore up the Sinhala Buddhist support, has often visited Buddhist temples.]
In words a leader may say ‘we want no
terrorism’ or in the case of Indonesia ‘we want no drugs’. But our political
pathway is likely to show that we came to power because of ‘yes terrorism / yes
drugs’. Without that problem seen at the voter level - there is no opportunity to show our ‘cleverness’
as leaders. That is how ‘no means yes’ when expressed by the unsteady mind
desiring quick benefits by manipulating the ignorant mind. Mr. Rajapaksa’s rise in
politics happened due to LTTE. Tamils who genuinely seek Independence and
therefore Peace – would leave no room for such reactive manifestations.
LTTE may be Terrorists to the Sinhalese but
not to the Tamil Community taken as a whole. For the same reason JVP actions
could be considered to be Terrorism actions by someone who felt part of the
Government. Where the person causing the damage is outside our circle of belief – we have the responsibility
to use wider laws common to the whole.
By using Sinhala only and / or Buddhism first pathways one may get elected
to be leader. But the voter needs to know that that in Sri Lanka that would reestablishes
the war-pathway. The path through which
we actually travelled to the leadership position is our Natural pathway. It is
difficult for oldies like us to override that through conscious thoughts to get
‘the right tick’ with wider world in the case of Mr. Rajapaksa and with the
cultural community in my case.
To the extent the LTTE went beyond its
areas of belief – one cannot fault the ‘Terrorism’ label. Likewise to the
extent Sinhalese Politicians and their followers apply that ‘Terrorism’ label indiscriminately
on Tamils - they promote the ‘Genocide’ charges from Tamil Politicians and
their followers. Likewise in the case of Indonesian Politicians – death
sentence for drug related offences outside their circle of belief would
naturally develop tribalism charges from those who have escalated the issue to
treat the problem through the educational pathway. Ultimately each one of us
has the right to judge and punish ourselves. Once we settle our debts to a
community/society/system – we are free to punish ourselves but not others – as LTTE
did and earned the responsibility to submit to wider laws.
Someone else – including a parent – could punish
only to the extent of her/his belief in their commonness through parent-child relationship.
The relationship is the pathway we ‘think’ we are taking. How we actually
traveled is our true pathway and the destination it takes us to is our True
destiny. Tamils who believe in the pathway of politicians such as the Hon SJV
Chelvanayakam whose political leadership was inherited by the Hon Appapillai
Amirthalingam of Vaddukoddai – would not take the LTTE pathway to
self-governance. Like Dowry and Donation - the former is heritage and the
latter is trade.
Myuran Sukumaran’s mother realized commonness
despite the ‘blame’ from community.
Australian Government under its current leadership helped her get there where the Tamil Community
failed.
A Tamil living in Sri Lanka, carrying
professional status stated ‘We hear about
Australians condemning Indonesians. They are supporters of hardcore criminals.
Who is going to look-after drug victims whose whole life is ruined. Will
Australians support all the drug victims forever whose life has been ruined by
hard core Australian criminals such as Myuran. Will the mere international
goodwill bring back the life of drug victims especially the school kids. Do we
conclude all Australians support hardcore criminals and do not bother about
possible child drug victims of Indonesia.’
This response came through during
discussions of the recent rape related events in Jaffna. As per my assessment
this person is pro-LTTE and anti-Rajapaksa/EPDP ( EPDP is Tamil Political party in coalition with former government). To him – EPDP would be the terrorists and not
the LTTE. A good proportion of the Tamil Diaspora would likewise be quick to
blame EPDP-Rajapaksa coalition instead of LTTE for problems relating to war and politics.
Yet, the UN listed the LTTE as
Terrorists. Like Myuran’s mum we include LTTE with all its shortcomings to
realize that Commonness as Community. Likewise, we include EPDP also with all
its shortcomings. That is Family and
that is Community. One who does not have
such Commonness strength – would keep contradicting himself with environmental
changes. We the Common Tamils and Common Sri Lankans are the ones developing
true Peace in the midst of all this war-related excitement. The Geetha – the Pathway
of Truth was communicated also in the battlefield. Truth surfaces more freely
in war and love.
I accepted Mr. Rajapaksa also through that
Commonness. However weak an individual may be – we need to accept that person
through her/his goodness to invest in the position s/he holds. The individual
has changed but my investment in the position of President continues along the
same true pathway. When it changes with the person – it is politics. When it
does not happen whoever the person – we are confirming that we have disenfranchised
ourselves. This is fine – so long as we
do not claim ‘rights’ – including ‘equal rights’ as members of the whole.