Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

30 November   2021

Is Australian Tamil Diaspora Promoting War?

There is a saying in Tamil ‘Manaivi Amaivethellam Iraivan Kodutha Varam / A wife happens due to Divine boon’. This is commonly known as an Act of God. Likewise, a true migrant also would happen through an ‘Act of God’. The essence of this is the Balance of Sovereignty. It is accepted that we are all born sovereign. If we therefore maintain that sovereignty – Truth gives it the form. Being ‘sovereign’ is essential to provision of service that would affect the structure of a family, institution, community or nation. Hence when using the written law, rather than one’s conscience – one needs to believe in that law that one uses. Then the outcomes would ‘happen’ through Divine system. A judgement where one believes in the law used as well the effects through which the problem is seen – would be a Divine Judgment. We refer to such a system as the system of Dharma.

 

The Tamil Diaspora of Sri Lankan origin has become powerful in many countries such as Canada and the UK. As per my truth – known through Tamil side in Sri Lanka, the above are Human powers and not Divine placements. In Australia, it is not the case right now. But there are indicators that some are tending towards such human status. The example presented by the ABC through its article ‘New program in Western Sydney is helping Tamil refugees haunted by Sri Lankan civil war’ – indicates this. As per this report:

 

[Ms Sandrasegaram, is still traumatised by her experiences during the Sri Lankan civil war.  (ABC News)

The mother-of-two said she's still haunted by her experience of the decades-long conflict, which includes being kidnapped, severely beaten and held for ransom for more than two weeks.

"I was 21-years-old at that time. They beat me and took my gold chain, bangles and the watch l was wearing and also my books … I was imprisoned in a disused and depleted house," she said.

But thanks to a new community program for Sydney's Sri Lankan refugees and asylum seekers, she no longer feels alone in her pain.]

 

As per the above Mrs Sandrasegaram who fails to reveal who kidnapped her – considers this to be an Act of God. If Mrs Sandrasegaram knows, then the lady has the duty to reveal that so that full facts would be taken into account. If she did not know – then it is highly likely that she would be a slave of those who facilitate her life in Australia.

 

As per the above report:

 

[Dr Seelan, who launched the program last year, fled the conflict in the late 1980s.

Thava Seelan, who launched the initiative last year, said the aim of the program was to build connections with vulnerable members in the community who often feel they have limited support networks in Australia.

"A lot of people don't even feel secure here because they are not supported by any community, so they are completely isolated in a new country, a new system — everything is new and the language barrier is there too," Dr Seelan said.

The local GP, who fled the conflict in the late 80s, has made it his mission to help others in the Tamil community piece their lives back together.

"The program is very close to my heart. When I deal with these people when they talk about the stories they have been through, I actually understand how they feel," he said.]

 

I provide service as per my intuition – to develop which I live with the victims as part of them. I left Sri Lanka in 1982 and therefore have had to learn from the direct victims to know how they felt. Unless Dr Seelan lived in the same social group as Ms Sandrasegaram – his solutions would not fit her. The war in Sri Lanka became so violent because the Colombo experience was hijacked by ‘ethnic’ nationalities on both sides. Hence as confirmed in my article yesterday ‘ Commonness is the basis of Divinity’.

I do not know whether Dr Seelan was tested by the authorities concerned for his ‘commonness’ with Australian Sinhalese who by default - are the other side here in Australia. Otherwise self-promotion is likely to polarize the Sri Lankan community in Australia also.

 

The ABC presents another service provider also as follows:

 

[For Ms Dhayanathan, it's a chance to use her cultural understanding and Tamil language to help those in her community affected by war.

"Many of the asylum seekers are alone here. They have no family or they have left their family back at home," Ms Dhayanathan said.

"I wanted to do something about that … just to give them support. I don't think any human being should feel that no one cares for them in this world."

Each week the retired teacher checks in with Ms Sandrasegaram, dropping by her house or simply giving her a call.

"With me she opens up because she feels like I'm her mother so she confides in me things that probably she may not talk to other people about," Ms Dhayanathan said.

The 72-year-old admits that initially it was difficult to connect.

"I used to call her [Ms Sandrasegaram] many times but she didn't pick up the phone. When I left messages, she didn't call back so it took months and months to connect with her," she said.

"She was going through a lot of depression and of course PTSD on top of that so she just didn't feel like talking to anybody.

"I could have just given up and gone and asked them to give me somebody else but I persisted and I'm really happy I did that because we have this lovely connection now."]

 

The human system of relativity needs to be balanced on current merit within a sovereign group. Towards this, we need to share our truth with the rest of the group/community  - so that the relativity is credible. That which cannot be shared on merit basis  needs to be shared on the basis of commonness. Below is my response through which one can relative to the post-war situation in a disenfranchised communities in Northern & Eastern Sri Lanka, which would help prevent future exodus:

 

[Thunaivi is a Toddy Tapper village and its twin city in terms of placement is Sangarathai of Vallalar caste. We have a Vairavar-Kali temple at the cusp. Our family referred to it as Vairavar temple but the locals refer to it as Kali temple.  Until 2005, I visited the temple and my parents had caretakers . Since we were largely visitors – I did not know about the cultural clashes until 2005. I went and stayed at my husband’s ancestral home in Vaddukoddai after completing my Tsunami Reconstruction work in Mankerni – report at http://www.austms.org/news_and_events/Batti.pdf

 

Mankerni folks were of Vedda origin and I was nervous to stay. But by staying there I gained wisdom about such cultures – including in interior parts of Thunaivi. My first experience of this was when someone in that part of Thunaivi said to bring out the sword against Mrs Ponmalar Rajeswaran (sister of a magistrate) who was the CEO of an NGO which got the award to manage NECORD through which development grants were distributed. In 2005, Mrs Rosa Maruthalingam whose father was employed by my father in law, approached me – asking me to facilitate the approach to Navaly road. We agreed. Then I was invited to a meeting where they wanted to thank me. There I learnt that the folks of Thunaivi were proposing to use the NECORD funds to build a development secretariat on the land of someone who was overseas. I felt upset and offered part of our temple land. After the passing away of my brother in law Yoganathan & due to conflict with my sister in law – I stayed in my other brother in law’s home across the road. Rosa and her daughter came to see me there and my other brother in law was unhappy due to caste. So we built a cottage in Thunaivi and I stayed there whenever I went to Jaffna – until some youth stoned our roof. When the two communities are separated – there is hardly any conflict. There are some women in Vaddukoddai who say ‘Nalam Nalam Thaan’ / Toddy Tapper is Toddy tapper  - and continue to act like my brother in law above. After my experience, I realised that that was their way of protecting themselves from unruly men who lived in isolated pockets in Vaddukoddai. Through Rani – daughter of Communist Karthigesan (relative of my husband) I met Mahaan – shorten form of Mylvaganam – who lived in Mudhali Kovil cluster of Toddy Tappers. Mahaan is exceptionally intelligent and is a JP. He is close to Douglas (Politician) . As per some in Thunaivi – he is a very dangerous person. But I found that when I indicated it – Mahaan would keep his distance. I attribute that to Mr Karthigesan who genuinely worked to eliminate caste based discrimination.

 

The recent Arasaddy incident happened close to Mudhali Kovil cluster. In the meantime in Thunaivi ‘possession’ became ownership and I kept my distance. Recently Rosa built a home along the same Road as my husband’s ancestral home and moved there. Two of her brothers were already living there and usually we do not get problems from them. Our Opportunity  shop staff is also of that caste and lives further down that road. She is soft natured and follows my instructions to the letter. Kowsi is also very appreciative that I call often and talk to her socially. Her aunt is our neighbour in Thunaivi. But my instructions are that when she comes to Thunaivi for our work – she is not to have social interactions with her aunt.

 

Rosa’s nephew in Thunaivi-Jeevan  who was a teacher in our school of human values – got his job as a watcher with Pradesha Sabai – on the day my brother in law fell into the well and died. I called Jeevan from here and asked him to render the help needed. Jeevan went there after the interview and led the group that brought the body out of the well. Jeevan said it was an honor he would not forget. Another guy – Vicky – a Vellala caste who drinks and by conduct is low class – approached me on my next visit and said that it was wrong of me to have allowed that caste to take the body. He said he would have done it! Then he asked me for money! He gave me some trouble in the Opportunity Shop at Vaddukoddai junction. I reported him to the Police. He makes a lot of noise but in action he is not strongly harmful. After his death – I help his son anyway I can.

 

In Thunaivi – a member of the Diaspora from Switzerland constructed a ‘memorial’ for his father. It was on someone else’s land and this is the building that Mr CVW inaugurated because he was CM.

 

The current situation is that the GS refuses to have her office there and the building was idle and this led to breaking open the gate lock to take shortcuts to the main road and also to use the toilets in the building. The Post Master refused to shift to the building. Those from across the road said I was ‘brave’ to stay where they – men would not go. That is the shortcut. It is my belief in our temple and our ancestors that continues to keep me there. After the dressing down Jeevan got from me in relation to the above mentioned building opened by CM – he is careful not to overrule me. His uncle who organised to attack the senior caste who discriminated against his clan at Sangarathai Pathrakali Amman temple is now a Councillor through EPDP . But Nadesu as an individual pays us his respects. It is bound to be different when they have group power. Yesterday Jeevan asked as follows to use the common hall for his Karate class:

[மழை பெய்து வெள்ளமாக உள்ளதனால்  இன்று சனி ,ஞாயிறு இரு தினங்களும் மண்டபத்தில் பயிற்சியை செய்வதற்கு தங்களது அனுமதியை தந்துதவுமாறு தயவுடன் கேட்டுக் கொள்கின்றேன்.]

 

In addition there is a young educated guy who seeks to be a politician like Periyaar. Some of their video footage was taken in front of the above building. This seriously dilutes my own sacrifices to be part them . Last night a teenager rang me regarding the building usage by the NGO. The time was 0030 hrs! But I took the call and thanked him for following due process. I will ask Jeevan to educate him about time.

 

In short – the problem is when they come together without a higher common pathway. The Diaspora needs to use ‘diversity’ and not unity. After all Murugan in Kathirgamam is far away from Murugan in Nallur]

 

As part of my service, I listen to the displacement experiences of the folks who continue to live in Thunaivi and Vaddukoddai – with the leftover of the caste system which as per my belief contributed strongly to the war. This reason is confirmed by the fact that Tamil Politicians were killed by the armed militants.

 

Dr Seelan as well as Ms Viji Dhayanathan, to the extent their status was made possible through the Common Resources of Sri Lanka, need to ensure that that commonness is placed in those whose welfare they are taking responsibility for. Until they go personally to their home area in Sri Lanka their assessments are likely to favour those in Australia through whom their own status would be elevated.

 

The war affected Tamil community here has far more support than the community they left behind. To the extent we give priority to those who are here, over those who endured pain and loss but chose to stay on there we lose the blessings of Divine power of Sovereignty.

 

Australian journalists who use the easy path are misleading the Government and their fellow Australians by representing the community through easy pathways that their customers are attracted by. My articles to the ABC included in the list below, have been going to them for years :

 

'amiesulo@gmail.com'; 'Nilantha Ilangamuwa' <ilangamuwa@gmail.com>; 'prabath' <prabath@unl.upali.lk>; 'manik' <manik@unl.upali.lk>; 'SriLanka Guardian' <feed@srilankaguardian.org>; 'ravi prasad herat' <raviprasadherat@gmail.com>; 'Swarajya' <newsletters@swarajyamag.com>; 'nsvenkatchennai@gmail.com'; 'colombotelegraph@gmail.com'; 'Dbs Jeyaraj' <dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com>; 'Neil Jayasekera' <neil@elanka.com.au>; 'SBS News' <news@subscribers.sbs.com.au>; 'editorial.themorning@liberty.lk'; 'W A Wijewardena' <waw1949@gmail.com>; 'info@eelanadu.lk'; 'Sathiyamoorthy N' <sathiyam54@gmail.com>; 'info@trincocss.org'; 'bishoptrincomalee@gmail.com'; 'ITJPSL@GMAIL.COM'; 'Harsha Gunasena' <harsha.gunasena@gmail.com>; 'editor@thaiveedu.com'; 'editor@sundaytimes.wnl.lk'; 'dailynewsonline@lakehouse.lk'; 'Swadesh Roy' <swadeshroy@gmail.com>; 'Dr S Chandrasekharan' <bagyam1943@gmail.com>; 'voiceofnation@hotmail.com'; 'inquiries@veloxlegal.com'; 'Editor@FactCheck.org'; 'Shivanthi Ranasinghe' <ranasingheshivanthi@gmail.com>; 'colombogazette@gmail.com'; 'Jeya Seelan' <jeya86@hotmail.com>; 'Uditha Devapriya' <udakdev1@gmail.com>; 'neenagopal@gmail.com'; 'Indrajith Aponsu' <aponsu@econ.cmb.ac.lk>; 'KKS Perera' <kksperera1@gmail.com>; 'SIVA SivaSubramaniam 2' <sivaconsulting@hotmail.com>; 'Rajasingham Jayadevan' <raj.jayadevan@btinternet.com>; 'Kiruba 5 Kiruba 5' <tchrfrance@hotmail.com>; 'Valentine Kurusumuthu' <valentinetechger@googlemail.com>; 'Rajeewa Jayaweera' <rpjayaweera@hotmail.com>; 'Consortium of Tamil Associations NSW' <gunal@tpg.com.au>; 'harini.NPP@gmail.com'; 'Malinda Seneviratne' <malindasenevi@gmail.com>; 'investigations@abc.net.au'; 'Editor Lanka News Web' <editor@lankanewsweb.net>; 'High Commission of India in Sri Lanka' <hc.colombo@mea.gov.in>; 'meera.srinivasan@thehindu.co.in'; 'pererago@bigpond.net.au'; 'rajasingham narendran' <rajnarendran@yahoo.com>; 'rasika jayakody' <rasikajayakody2@gmail.com>; 'psc p' <vishwamithra1984@gmail.com>; 'jekhanaruliah@gmail.com'; 'danithevanesan@gmail.com'; 'lawije@gmail.com'; 'venkataramanan.k@thehindu.co.in'; 'sechrcsl@gmail.com'; 'Gmoa Office' <office@gmoa.lk>; 'himal@republicnext.com'; 'Zulkifli Nazim' <4s7mz@qsl.net>; 'Ravi Ladduwahetty' <raviladu@gmail.com>; 'Kapil Komireddi' <kapskom@gmail.com>; 'editor.suo@lakehouse.lk'; 'Sarath De Alwis' <sarath.de.alwis@gmail.com>; 'Harry de Sayrah' <harold.166@hotmail.com>; 'Bruce Dowton' <brucedowton@gmail.com>; 'Colonel R Hariharan' <colhari@yahoo.com>; 'Dr Velautham Sarveswaran' <vsarveswaran@hotmail.com>; 'izethhussain@gmail.com'; 'J.S Tissainayagam' <tissai30@gmail.com>; 'P. Jayaram' <jayaramp_@hotmail.com>; 'Pancras Jordan' <pancrasjordan@gmail.com>; 'TBCNEWS LONDON' <tbcnews@outlook.com>; '20collinsstmedical@gmail.com'; 'javidyusuf@gmail.com'; 'mail@prgsrilanka.org'; 'info@ahrc.asia'; 'acvisva@gmail.com'; 'sanmugam.kanagaratnam@gmail.com'

 

I relate to the ABC through its position and not the outcomes it can deliver. That which is supported by common values is a relationship. That which is based on immediate outcomes is for profit. This is an insult to Australian Journalism which would to towards another war in Sri Lanka – in this instance the risk is Indo-China war. One wonders about hidden agendas in the immigration programs based on current outcomes instead of deep research based discoveries.

 

Every time there is escalation of conflict in Sri Lanka including due to celebration of the LTTE – I feel apprehensive. Then I draw on my belief that I am Sri Lankan and that restores my confidence. Those who find fault with the opposition beyond their belief – are attacking for selfish reasons. This weakens the sovereignty of the whole community. It was irresponsible of ABC to publish this during this period when Tamils remember only militants killed in the war. They are actually praying for more pain and suffering for helpless Tamil mothers.