Gajalakshmi Paramasivam – 09 June  2015

 Vattapalai Kannagi Amman

Kannagi is a legendary Tamil lady who forms the central character of the Tamil epic Silapathikaram (100-300 CE) Wikipedia

What Do We Want?

Politics Or Administration?

The active topic within the British Tamil Diaspora is around the meeting in London, of some British Tamil Group leaders with the Sri Lankan Government’s representatives and the representatives of the main Tamil Political Group – the TNA of  Sri Lanka. Questions have been raised about the appropriateness of the claim that the Global  Tamil Forum of UK,  describing itself in actin as the ‘sole-representatives’ of British Tamils of Sri Lankan origin – including through  the following Press Release published at Tamil Aarachchi site:

[The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) continued their informal dialogue over the last two days in London with various stakeholders to enhance confidence building measures between all communities within and outside Sri Lanka. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Mangala Samaraweera was also present.

The need for constructive engagement by the Sri Lankan Diaspora was discussed, including the needs of displaced people. It was agreed that a further meeting will be called to present the requirements to various High Commissioners and Ambassadors based in Sri Lanka, with the aim to raise funds for housing of over two thousand families in these newly released lands.

The release of prisoners held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in the light of the review by the

Ministry of Justice was also discussed. The TNA and the GTF further raised the issue of listing of Diaspora organisations and individuals by the previous Government.

Ideas of ways in which the Sri Lankan Diaspora could assist by bringing its exceptional capacity and capabilities were explored. 

M.A. Sumanthiran  

Member of Parliament  - Tamil National Alliance 

  

Suren Surendiran

Director of Strategic Initiatives - Global Tamil Forum]

It is interesting that a fellow UK Tamil Diaspora Group – the  Non-Resident Tamils of Sri Lanka (NRTSL) group is seeking recognition as follows:

[Impressed by what India has done for its large diaspora, influential Sri Lankan Tamils have come together in Britain to seek from Colombo a "Ministry of Overseas Sri Lankans". ] at http://www.newkerala.com

I find these to be the natural pathways through which the respective groups empower themselves. The pathways through which we traveled become our laws – personal to us. Our natural expressions would confirm the pathway through which we actually traveled. The consolidated value of it is called our ‘Karma’. During the meeting I attended in Colombo, GTF was also the group recognized by a senior member of the  Friday Forum. I concluded that this GTF  was the group that the Government recognized as its Opposition. I was asked whether I attended meetings of the GTF? Hence, the above coalition between the TNA and the GTF does not surprise me. They are both Political groups of the Tamil People of Sri Lanka. But the high risk here is the way in which GTF has represented itself along-side TNA – taking Equal position as the Government by forming coalition with the TNA. Leaving aside the principles covering such coalition structuring, one needs to ask as to what picture in the past identifies with this ? That would help us project the destination that this kind of coalition would lead to. Unless we consciously override our past habits – they would continue to travel with us to form the basis of our natural expressions.

By effectively self-representing themselves as the Sole Representatives of UK Tamils of Sri Lankan origin, GTF has confirmed that in terms of Administration they are like the LTTE. This then confirms that they are weak in their investment in Global principles and laws as structured by the UN. Hence they use the political pathway for their own identity. Using LTTE terminology – the GTF therefore has the authority to describe itself as Eelam Tamil Forum – UK and not as Global Tamil Forum. The Sri Lankan Government engaging with them is therefore giving recognition to Eelam Tamils above Sri Lankan Tamils.

As per the above press release:

[The TNA and the GTF further raised the issue of listing of Diaspora organisations and individuals by the previous Government]

Each Government is entitled to list as per its interpretation of its responsibilities. If GTF was listed by the previous regime as a banned organization – that is the heritage brought into the current structure by the current Government – the same way GTF has inherited from the LTTE - the shortcuts to leadership through declarations.  Heritage cannot be dealt with on the same basis as current merit. Former needs Confidentiality and latter Transparency. Until GTF is cleared by Law by the current Government – the Terrorism label continues as the official label and all law-enforcement officers have the responsibility to abide by those decisions. All other interactions need to be ‘confidential’ and not added to current activities. They could have been under the Rajapaksa regime. The leading subject’s belief-based power is included in such decisions. Hence where the subject changes – the previous outcomes become part of our fate/karma/heritage/genes and cannot be directly dealt with. Decisions through Objective assessments are valid so long as the measures used do not change. Hence Objectivity requirement in global decisions beyond local borders.

The decisions by the above group do not qualify as being lawful on behalf of Sri Lanka. They may help in sharing of intelligence but they do not have the authority of Law for the Sri Lankan People - to place their  official stamp. GTF has the responsibility to first apply for a lift of the ban through the lawful process to have the official stamp to operate  within Sri Lanka. A truly Global Administration would have done that before meeting officially with the Sri Lankan Government in relation to those issues. Once it is law – the ‘position’ owns the outcomes. If GTF is to use the current merit basis – it needs to renounce all status inherited due to the war and use only its current activities to credit itself with status. It then does not qualify to form coalition with any political group in Sri Lanka in relation to war issues.

There are laws that folks at the primary level cannot relate to. LTTE was able to ‘takeover’ such folks by providing them with employment, accommodation etc. Every government in that area will inherit the LTTE as coalition or opposition due to this real pathway. If not for LTTE there is no status for GTF and other organizations banned by the previous regime in Sri Lanka. The international opportunity happened due to LTTE being listed as a Terrorist organization through the UN. Using Global principles they are still on the wrong side of the law. But as per locals – they were the government in areas where they administered without the help of the government. It’s like Customary laws over which locally powerful leaders have first authority to interpret – including in District Courts. Ultimately each individual is answerable to her/his own Truth. How can one expect an individual who has no knowledge of  global laws to mark her/himself wrong through those laws? The closer down we go to the level of the individual only – the pathway of the individual is the morally applicable law for that individual.

Tamils from areas without access to knowledge of wider common laws, understandably looked to their politicians’ interpretations of the laws and rightly so. By killing those politicians the LTTE killed that political leadership before taking over power through guns. One who is able to go deep into the way their minds worked – would find the Truth that the people and therefore to the extent LTTE believed in them, were not wrong as per these politicians who made the Vaddukoddai resolution. But the mistakes LTTE made were:

(1)    to structure that Tamil State as per its current merit and not as per the Total investment including inheritance from the past – especially through our political leaders who until then used the non-violent pathway. The leader needs to endorse her/himself as right. LTTE shrunk the community to suit their height.

(2)   Went outside that State – to attack instead of waiting until attacked to Defend.

One who uses the Truth would be a natural administrator. The pathway of Truth is the highest law and it never fails the owner-user. Tamils of Sri Lanka were recognized, including by the British, for their deep investment in Good Administration. GTF has compromised on that pre-LTTE heritage which continues to support the higher leaders in the Sri Lankan Tamil Community. It is that height that makes of for the gap of physical minority status along the lateral pathway.

They say in Tamil that the crop of the young does not reach home. LTTE was such an example. Just because a Security Officer of a home does his job well, he does not become the Head of a family that has invested in higher education. But by taking his place and doing his duty within that portfolio – the Security Officer would naturally be a part of the Big Picture and enjoy the experiences as per the higher leadership.

The Sri Lankan Tamil Community’s investment in education is at the core of its struggle for self-governance. We must first value that and continue to show that heritage through our structures. The following message through a news report forwarded by a Sri Lankan highlights the weakening of that heritage and ‘security heritage’ taking over towards ‘free speech’:

[Ahilan Kadirgamar, a researcher and political activist based in Jaffna told The Sunday Leader that clearly there were a lot of expectations with the change of the regime and indeed, certain steps have been taken forward. He noted that there is more freedom of movement, freedom of speech and association in the North and East. “We can see different types of protests in the North and East and people are able to come out and voice their opinion much more openly. However, at the same time, some of the crucial issues related to land, disappearances and releasing political prisoners have not been given enough attention,”]

Lawful occupation of and development of that Land is the educated person’s way. If those lands were owned and occupied pre-LTTE by those folks, and the occupants considered/accepted LTTE to be their Government – they diluted the lawful heritage pre-LTTE with the ‘enforced occupation’ heritage from LTTE. Such persons would tend to speak more freely and prematurely as they would be lacking in knowledge of the wider pathway of common principles.

Those who considered/accepted  LTTE and/or  other armed groups to be their Government – would lack the real power to work the legal systems to release prisoners. Groups such as GTF have the priority responsibility to educate them to Do It Themselves. That is the power of Belief and Belief based pathway  is the true pathway of Good Politicians. A good politician would naturally develop into good administrator when the brain has to be used actively to include opposition disagreement as ‘other’ side. Premature expression of one’s opinion stunts the vertical intellectual growth of such a person. That exactly is the case with GTF as per my assessment.

The above conclusion by me about the lack of depth in terms of ownership is highlighted by the report below by Danish Journalist Ingeborg Lohfert Haslund-Vinding currently in Sri Lanka reporting for and working with Groundviews:

[Sellama Singaraththinam and her family live in the Mullaitivu district. She is 79 years old and a widow who lost her husband in 2014, when he passed away at age 85. Sellama is now the owner of the family’s land still occupied by the military. The land is close to one acre and they had four houses and a shop before the military took it over. In 2011 when they returned from the refugee camp they couldn’t get their land back. So they lived with other families until 2013. Now they rent a house for 8,000 rupees a month just a few kilometers from their occupied land…..]

To be able to pay Rs. 8,000 a month in rent and taking the ratio of rent to salary to be 1:5,  the family must be making around Rs.40,000 p.m..  I would expect basic investment in higher education to be able to earn such income (pension in Sellama’s case). Relatively speaking our neighbors in Thunaivi in Vaddukoddai area – a family of six adults and one baby -  live in a small two bed-roomed house which they believe is theirs and which would have a rental value of no more than Rs. 1,000 per month.  Only one member brings in regular income by working as a midwife at the Jaffna Hospital. The others depend on casual work. Their total income would also be around Rs. 40,000 per month. But they are paying off debts and hence do not have much left for spending on extras. If their land had been occupied by the Army – they would have worked their investment in education to understand the law and work the system as is at that place. As Swami Sathya Sai Baba says – Education needs to be for life and not just for a living. Education used for life would lead to development of steadiness of mind. Education for living would lead to the brain deteriorating once our motivation to work is weakened. Motivation is weakened when we start hoarding.  In the above example – taking the virtual value of  ‘Home’ to the family – there seems no loss of enjoyment due to the war. If there was and it was felt by that family – by now Sellamma’s children would have invoked the powers of the educated Tamil ancestors to have their home released from the army. Wanting it both ways – is bad politics that would lead to negative contribution to self-governance.

 GTF through its belief could be a Mistress in the Sri Lankan Politics but not Wife. To my mind, it is no coincidence that LTTE leader died at Mullivaikaal –  in the area of  Vattapalai Kannagi Amman Shrine. Kannagi is the legendary Tamil who commanded Justice for unjust Death Penalty to her husband Kovalan carried out as per the King’s orders. Kovalan’s Mistress for whom Kovalan abandoned Kannagi did not have the Authority of the official wife. But Kannagi as a good wife who completed the relationship without the physical partnership of her husband, had the power to burn down the capital Mathurai for the injustice by the King. The moral of the legend  is that the official person who successfully completes the relationship acquires  the official powers to successfully challenge the Head of Government.

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam – 08 June  2015

Logo - ICASL

Global Tamil Leadership

I received with appreciation an email response by supporter of Non-Resident Tamils of Sri Lanka in the UK.  Some highlights of that are shared along with my own responses to it.

NRT Supporter (NRTS): Thank you for your Email. It was nice meeting you at the gathering organised by the NRT(SL).

The questions (which I thought I might as well share with you and the like minded people) that need be answered on the news item, for now and the future, if it is true and in the context of the fact that it is a high level meeting, are: 

1.      NRTS: Is GTF such a body that it could be considered as " representing the Tamils" living globally (as the name implies) or even the Tamils living in the UK ?

Gaja: If GTF (Global Tamil Forum)  has at least one member who believes that s/he is global – then the Forum does represent Tamil living globally – through belief. It’s a Natural Representation as we do in families.

2.      NRTS:  If so, how was this representation brought about? 

Gaja: Irrelevant unless they claim that they Administer Tamils and not merely represent Tamils as part of the Common Diaspora

(3) NRTS: Who is Suren Surendran? -- Exactly what and when was his contribution to the Tamil people? 

Gaja: Irrelevant unless we accept them as OUR  Administrators

 (4) NRTS:  How did he and/ or what authority has he to represent and articulate the political aspirations of the Tamils in Sri Lanka , or in the UK, or globally?

Gaja: His belief.  We have no obligation to give it credit, unless we are within the GTF. If it is not within their stated purpose any member of the affected public has the right to take legal action.

 (5) NRTS: Can anyone, just because he/she has perhaps some time and money at their disposal, set up an outfit and claim themselves to "represent the Tamils"  to the extent of having  recognition by the higher echelons of  the Sri Lankan and international governments to decide the fate of the Tamils,?

Gaja:  To the extent we are sincere and true to our stated purpose – we have the moral right to make claims within that Truth. But these may not always be within the laws of the country. Where they are not,  we have the right to take action through due administrative and legal pathways. If we have cultural clout we could use our vote within the community. Otherwise we have to treat our disagreements as social dismissals which will show returns as per our depth of investment in the common cause. To the extent we are true we would identify with the return as the confirmation of the solution we have already written in our minds and completed the picture through our Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth.

 (6) NRTS: Has the GTF openly expressed their disassociation with the LTTE policies and methodologies, which they have been vehemently articulating and supporting during the LTTE days? 

Gaja:  They don’t need to.   Karuna is part of the Government even though he was an LTTE leader. By conduct that is the law that the Sri Lankan Government has developed not only with LTTE but also with Southern Insurgents – the JVP. If majority British Tamils have not disassociated themselves from the  LTTE methodologies and outcomes then GTF would be acceptable to majority UK Tamils. Why would GTF need to disassociate with LTTE and lose its importance as a  group that could harness LTTE support through the political pathway of belief?

 During LTTE days – they were the only Government known to most victims of war in Tamil areas. Hence whoever performed the Government work would be the real government known to these folks.  Those who had/have  little understanding of the root causes of the war would go by what happened to them at that time at that place.  This is stronger in the case of those families whose children were with LTTE and/or whose family members died due to attack by Armed Forces. Civilians who were not protected were/are entitled to so conclude. If LTTE is denounced – GTF would cease to represent them. These groups would not have any government to turn to. The advantage of Social Groups such as GTF and NRT is that they do not have to be regulated by strict rules but rather through common beliefs. TNA (Tamil National Alliance) which also includes LTTE does not have that advantage and therefore the requirements are different – as laws are different in different countries.

The investment in  Self-Governance through the Government in our respective areas is valid as having been made in the Government position – be it through the Sri Lankan Member of Parliament, LTTE or the Armed Forces. The Administrative pathway through which we invest confirms the ‘system’ through which we invested. The individual through whom we invest confirms the Political pathway we follow.  To the extent the Laws of the Country were followed – habitually and/or by determination – Tamils continued to invest in the Government system. Only where this value is weaker than the following-of orders by the LTTE or other armed rebels – should one be listed as LTTE supporter – needing to expressly renounce their investment in such leadership by armed leaders – to become eligible for membership with wider systems.   

In addition, to the extent Mr. Douglas Devananda’s group carried arms – all other political parties  in that area were entitled to do so by virtue of  Mr. Devananda’s party EPDP being part of the Government at that time.  Also, to the extent EPDP killed to attack or in defence – every other Tamil Political party in that area had the authority of the Government to kill to attack or in defence.  Once LTTE joined TNA – they were entitled to the same clemency as Karuna in the East.

 (7) NRTS: Have they openly accepted their responsibility and accountability on this and apologised for the disastrous consequences of the part they played in cohort with the LTTE that has brought about the ruination of the Tamils and the country as a whole?  

Gaja:  Majority Tamils would not identify with the LTTE as being the root cause of the war. Majority Tamils would point to the Government as the root cause.  Whether this is right or wrong depends on the measures used- especially whether they are common. One who has no other knowledge is entitled to belief that the person who caused her/him the pain is the cause. Politics is about belief and we need to respect the authority as per that belief where there is no higher common law in majority minds at that place at that time. It is self-judgment through belief.

If the Sri Lankan Government had accepted the 1977 election results as confirmation from Above – that Tamils are indeed an Equal force in Government – we would not have had the 1978 Constitution from which the Government is now working to release itself.  If Tamil leaders had stayed within their circle of belief and upheld Political Solution as the preferred pathway and therefore continued along that pathway post Vaddukoddai Resolution 1976 – they would have observed Sathya Graham – in protest against LTTE and other armed groups. By failing to judge our internals on the same platform as they judged the Sinhalese  – Tamil Politicians dwarfed their own thought structures in terms of Civil Administration.  If they had used their Belief only for political purposes they would have used the level playing field. Truth is the most NON-VIOLENT uniting force known to me.  Death for that Truth alone – makes the killer a Great Hero – Maha Veeran.

 (8) NRTS: Apart from the general, vague and ambiguous declarations of "Self -determination", what exactly are the political structure and formation that they are propounding for the Tamils in Sri Lanka? 

Gaja:  Diaspora Groups without their physical  presence in Sri Lanka – do not have the official mandate to Politically lead Resident Tamils in Sri Lanka. They could use their influence through other pathways to help Resident Sri Lankans realize self-determination – each group as per their own level of development. We – Australian Tamil Management Service - are doing this through educational pursuits – including through lessons in Human Values. There are others who are facilitating this through medical services. I did not realize self-governance through the Political pathway. Political clout at global level could help work the government system, but if we try to translate / express at global political level – we would lead ourselves astray.

 (9) NRTS: Would that be acceptable to all the Tamil speaking people of Sri Lanka, including the Muslims, let alone, the Sinhalese? If not, how are they proposing to bring about this acceptance without which anything is meaningless and useless and in fact time wasting. 

Gaja:   Language on its own would never be an effective measure of unity and therefore of  distribution of  responsibility. Belief through common culture is the measure. Hence I, an Accountant may find it more harmonious to live with a Sinhalese Accountant than a Tamil atheist. It is the common belief that makes us Diverse and yet not Divisive.  A family where at least one member invests in Commonness would be in union with itself even where the members physically live far away. In contrast – a family with large membership living physically close to each other – but without common belief – would easily get scattered where money is the measure. This is a serious risk within the Diaspora groups of both ethnicities. One such example was highlighted by the Swiss National’s part in the recent rape case in Northern Sri Lanka.

When we become models of Self-Governance in our own local areas – including Tamils in the UK – we would naturally lead others by example.  

 (10) NRTS: What are the exact political actions they advocate for the Tamils living abroad and the Tamils living in Sri Lanka to do (apart from pushing for a UNHRC resolution and 'war crimes' inquiries, which they too know well have been part of the international communities designs for change of Mahinda Rajapaks'e government and with the change they can be seen to be diluted now)? 

Gaja:  Some of us receive the Sri Lankan experiences through the Global pathway. Others use the global pathway only for particular purposes. The latter are visitors and the former are citizens. So long as the latter group does not desire to lead former – there is room for both.

The Sri Lankan Government which invested in Sinhala Buddhism more than in Sri Lanka of Global values – USED the Global Highway for its purposes as visitors and tried to lead the world in relation to Sri Lanka. If Tamil leaders also do that, their fate would be like that of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Regime.

 (11) NRTS: Who and which organisations, if any, are they liaising within Sri Lanka, in UK and globally, that is representative of the Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese, as this process is imperative for a meaningful, just and permanent political solution for the vexed national question that has defied answer and destroyed the country for the last many decades , and inevitably has to be solved amicably for the country as a whole to progress for the good of all the people? What is the understanding they have with them? 

Gaja:  Our organization – Australian Tamil Management Service – with a branch in Vaddukoddai Sri Lanka has no government affiliations. We are funded largely by immediate family out of our hard-earned savings. The higher capital is Human Capital and Corporate Wisdom. Through our regular work and interactions – we share our self-governance energies with others along the non-political pathways. We are very firm in our Administration and that is undisturbed  by those who desire quick outcomes through which they can ‘show and tell’.  Ours is  the bottom up path with Truth as our leader.

Just yesterday, after  Bhajan (group singing of Divine songs) I shared from Sydney, with our group at Thunaivi - Vaddukoddai – my belief that two children of  one family in that area went overseas because the father prayed daily at our temple – in which shrine our family – mostly part of the Diaspora also has faith. With this Shrine as the Common Pool of Belief – we share our global values so that these groups do not feel disenfranchised. Given that they were disenfranchised previously due to their caste – they became a target group for exploitation by armed groups including LTTE and EPDP.  By living with them I have learnt that they actually look up to the leadership by the higher caste – under whom their fathers worked.  They may reject the current generation of that higher caste as leaders but when it comes to customary laws and family laws – they continue to take leadership from the higher caste in their areas, including through the life of elders they trust/ed. To the extent they submit of their own accord – it is belief based following and is not within the Administrative Jurisdiction of any official authority. Often when I explained to youth groups the family protocols – especially in relation to respect for parents – they say ‘Ammah we did not know about this’.  I do believe that the pooling of belief by the Diaspora through Common prayers and living has empowered young ones to use the official pathways to emigrate. Others who came by boat to Australia are now discouraging their mates back in Vaddukoddai to not undertake that pathway. This was possible because our group educated them to follow their belief – however long it took to get the freedom they were seeking.

Due to the Testamentary matter in relation to my brother in law Subramaniam Yoganathan of Vaddukoddai – I myself learnt more deeply about the system of Thesawalamai – the customary law of Jaffna Tamils, encoded by the Dutch.  To the extent the dowry system is practiced by Tamils – the highest known law suitable to Jaffna Tamils is Thesawalamai for marriage issues. Even though I did practice this Code of Conduct often by foregoing personal pleasures and benefits, towards pooling  in Common with my husband’s family – and often even though I was often ‘forgotten’ after being used – the system of Truth would not let me walk away. It insisted that I converted my contributions into ‘system structures’ by escalating the matter to the highest level through my own pathways.  

In the above case – sisters who received dowry are claiming equal share as brothers from the Intestate Estate of Subramaniam Yoganathan.  But as per Thesawalamai Law and principles – Diversity & Equality are maintained through Separation of Powers between the role of Father and Mother respectively as Equal but Different Heads of the One family. To my mind, it is not different to the Judiciary & the Executive Government being the Equal but Different Heads of  a Nation – with the requirement to uphold the Doctrine of Separation of Powers. That Separation of Powers is built into the Law of Thesawalamai through sharing of inherited wealth. That is how highly civilized Tamils of Sri Lanka have been.

Recently, I learnt through Nihal Sri Ameresekere’s book “Overseas Corporate Structures, Which Hide 'real Owners'” and his detailed listings therein  of the inheritance claims by the family of Business Tycoon Upali Wijewardene – that the sisters, of Upali Wijewardene who is not known to have had children, were entitled to 50% of the Intestate Estate and that the wife was entitled to only 50% of the Estate. This to my mind, gave recognition to the investment made by  the family whose genes we inherit and whom we grow up with. Under Thesawalamai – sisters who received dowry from that common family are NOT entitled to share of wealth of the brothers who die without children.

 I learnt also that the late Philip Upali Wijewardene was the cousin of President JR Jayawardene.  My mind asked the question as to whether there was any connection between the disappearance of Mr. Upali Wijewardene and his accumulation of excessive wealth which led to Political Promotions instead of  Transparent Merit Based promotion to higher authority. The question arose due to the ‘promotions’ that Mr. Upali Wijewardene enjoyed due to his relationship with  President J R Jayawardene. On page 4 of the above mentioned book, Nihal states that he had knowledge that Mr. Upali Wijewardene was returning from Malaysia to Sri Lanka on 13 February 1983 to assume political Office as Minister of Finance. That was when Mr. Upali Wijewardene’s plane is reported to have crashed. July 1983 becoming Black July not only for Tamils in Colombo but also for President JR Jayawardene was to my mind no coincidence. The Business pathway and the Political pathway when mixed indiscriminately – produce Separation². Belief is an exponential power. Politics needs to be belief based and business needs to be transparent.

Family & National Governance when mixed indiscriminately eventually hurts someone so badly that they would be empowered by Truth to fight along their own pathways. One who operates close to Truth is always protected by Truth and would naturally merge systems into common pool and then draw from such common pools. I wrote in this regard:

[Nihal Sri Ameresekere was my senior when we were both students learning to become Chartered Accountants. I would have been about 19 or 20 years of age. It was voting time for the student society and Yogi Sri Khanta  from our firm (Satchithananda, Schokman, Wijeratne & Co) was contesting to become the Treasurer.  Nihal (Turqand Youngs & Co ) and Victor Rajakulendran (Ford Rhodes, Thornton & Co) were competing for the position of President. Block voting was organized between Victor’s supporters in his firm and Yogi’s supporters in our firm. But I got to know Nihal as a person through Sunnelle de Silva and hence decided that it was appropriate to vote as an individual. Yogi (my second cousin) being the gentleman he is – confirmed that that was fine and the block was for those who did not have individual preferences. The ‘independence’ power of that Political vote at such a young age – I believe is returning Dividends through the work done by Nihal of the same Profession. That I believe is the way Truth works to support the self-governance values of individuals who often make personal sacrifices towards self-governance. Nihal’s writings have added support to my own sharing of my work related experiences through my book Naan Australian. ] Beyond Consciousness   

One who operates close to Truth  will make the best connection between cause and effect through her/himself. That is the highest and natural Administrative pathway available to ALL of us. 

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam – 06 June  2015

Litigant Judging the Judge

Jesus said ‘Seek and you shall Find’. Ever since Justice D.J.de S. Balapatabendi ruled on 22 January 1999  - that a Sinhalese occupier of my land in Colombo 5 – during the time of the war – was the rightful owner – the Judge and the ‘system’ through which he assumed this authority to deliver such an unjust verdict – I have been seeking through my pain. Today I found that return through Daily News article ‘Bribery Commission Chairman SOLD ME OUT’. That Chairman is Judge D.J.de S. Balapatabendi.  The accusation was by the Director General of the Commission – Ms Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe. As per Daily News:

[Bribery Commission Director General Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe said yesterday she was "sold out" by the Commission's Chairman, Justice Jagath Balapatabendi, when he met the Speaker over an inquiry on former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

She also admitted that there was a heated argument between the commissioners of the Bribery Commission over this matter during a meeting on April 22, a day after Balapatabendi met Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa for a discussion on the functioning of the commission.

Expressing her views on the meeting between the Speaker and the Bribery Commission Chairman, Wickramasinghe said she was "sold out" by Balapatabendi when the latter painted a wrong picture about the investigations carried out by the commission. "I am actually hurt about the whole incident. The Bribery Commission Chairman went to Parliament and sold me out.]

I discovered through my own legal matter that Justice Balapatabendi was not a just person. If he were committed to the laws and principles governing his own position he would have identified with the Truth that I had bought that property out of my hard earned money saved by foregoing immediate pleasures. But if Justice Balapatabendi had it ‘easy’ in terms of his income out of the Public purse – then he is likely to naturally collude with others who ‘take’ welfare. The Sinhalese occupier claimed ownership by filing a Declaration the details in which were false as per my knowledge. Despite me submitting documentary evidence in confirmation and more importantly my own word of honor – Justice Balapatabendi failed to include those in his Reasons for Judgment. But the Truth is the Truth – even if the highest member of the Judiciary concerned fails to recognize that Truth. When a litigant is more true to the Court system than the Judge – and the  Judgment causes pain to that true litigant – the Judgment gets reversed – i.e. the Litigant Judges the Judge.  It happens automatically where Truth is the driving force.

10 years after the pronouncement of the above Judgment, in his book ‘Politics, Justice and the Rule of Law’, fellow Chartered Accountant Nihal Sri Ameresekere highlights:

[Justice D.J.de S. Balapatabendi’s son H.I. Balapatabendi, who was State Counsel of the Attorney General’s Department was reported to have been appointed as Second Secretary, Sri Lanka Embassy in Hague, Netherlands by the Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Chief Justice J A N De Silva’s daughter reportedly following her studies in Netherlands  had married the said son of Justice D.J.de S. Balapatabendi. Chief Justice J.A.N De Silva, after retirement was appointed Advisor to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. ]

When there is disorder in the family that disorder is taken to the community and beyond unless we consciosly separate the two and use the common principles of wider world.. One without official leadership portfolio is entitled to take her/his Truth into the community once the leader at the primary level fails to produce leadership as per the Truth shared by the junior/minority.  If the Judgment in my matter had been in confirmation of my Truth – I would have concluded that there was no conflict of interest in the above decisions as reported by author Nihal Sri Ameresekere. Given that it was not – my vote through the Natural system is for other victims of Justice Balapatabendi. When at least one person is acting as per her/his Truth – Judgment is delivered immediately. One who has the authority to give it particular form would be empowered by that Truth when s/he is driven by Truth. Not all of us go to Courts for Judgment. Not all of us who do go to Court get just Judgments from the Court. But all of us have the authority to Judge and the responsibility to be Judged through Truth. Where we Judge through our Truth that is just Judgment.

Where a citizen does all within her/his power to deliver outcomes as per the laws known to her/him and yet is not able to uphold that system through the ‘right’ outcomes – and the citizen decides of her/his own will to take the matter to Courts – the Judgment at social level is delivered at that point – by the person who takes the matter to Court on the parties whom s/he believes failed to follow the law.  The Court then becomes the Facility that confirms or rejects such outcomes and is NOT an Administering authority. The moment Court seeks to Administer such a person – the Court confirms abuse of authority to Judge. Justice Balapatabendhi did just that as did Justice Gajanithibalan this year in Mallakam Courts. Every litigant who has shown respect for the Law above all other pathways – needs to be treated as the Executive Head of that area covered by the Judicial Court. The judgment itself may look different but it would then come from a different angle and be the opposition and not the enemy of the litigant’s decision. Neither Judge above mentioned ‘positioned’ me as their Equal. In both instances the judgments got reversed on them and weakened their investment in social justice. Whether it be the Parliament or the Courts – they all end up in Society. They were both judged by me as being guilty of abuse of Public Resources. The results keep manifesting from time to time and they reach me to confirm yet again - that Natural Justice never fails.  

The Bribery Commission is less formal than a Court system and has therefore surfaced the Truth of Justice Balapatabendi at the right time. Within family – we discover Truth in a free environment. Unless we include that Truth and position fellow family members to demonstrate that Truth – we assume with their powers their strengths and weaknesses also. Justice Balapatabendi has been acting in breach of the Doctrine of Separation of Powers and hence he went to Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa – instead of  leaving it to the Administrative Head - Director General Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe. One who habitually breaches the Doctrine of Powers would fail to respect the Administrator as an Equal head. One day the system of Democracy would surface this breach for all to see and judge. Every judgment that we make for our own peace – and not to show others – is a membership credit in this Natural voting system.  

In Sri Lanka, it is not uncommon to find breaches of the Doctrine of Separation of Powers between the Judiciary and the Politicians. Hence when we go to Court – we must be ready for unjust outcomes but not stop participating in the Court Process. To the extent we record our Truth in Court we would learn the Truth about the Court system. To that extent we would ‘cure’ outcomes delivered by the Judiciary – and take the experience through our own Truth – to strengthen our minds and empower ourselves. That is also Do-It-Yourself media work.

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam – 05 June  2015

Child-Monk & Child-Soldier

(Picture by nihal Chandrakumara)

Included in the article ‘Child ordinations and the rights of children’ by Professor Gananath Obeyesekere

The article ‘Buddhist Violence in Burma & Sri Lanka’ by Barbara Crossette, published by  The Nation in 2013, was shared with me today by a fellow Sri Lankan. I take that as information I ‘need to know’.   Why did I need to know today? I feel it was because of responses from a Sinhalese to my yesterday’s article about Majority-Minority Relationships. Truth invokes true responses in support – sometimes from within the same group that opposes my expressions.

In her article, author Barbara Crossette concludes ‘In Sri Lanka, Buddhism is a faith that defines society for the Sinhalese, and it becomes the identifying characteristic when they feel threatened.’  I identify with this conclusion and see nothing wrong such conduct. It’s like the average person ‘staying at home’ when there is violence on the streets. But the problem arises when they assume authority over those who are not within that cultural circle, to enforce their views – as did a Sinhalese in response to my article. Below is the early morning communication with this Sinhalese:

Sinhalese: Do you agree that Tamils need a country to call their own, and that country could be (should be) Tamil Nadu? Shouldn't the world Tamil community try to find a way to make it a sovereign country? It is more than 130,000 sq.km and has only 72 million inhabitants, out of which 62 million are Tamils. There are about 77 million Tamils in the world.

Gaja: Tamils of Sri Lanka are entitled to call Sri Lanka their home. It is my home and I am a Sri Lankan Tamil. YOU seem to have a problem with it. If there are some who feel they would be better off in India – they would go there. Some of my relatives are there. My grandmother settled down in India after World War II when they were displaced from Burma. There would be Sinhalese also to whom India would be home. By limiting homeland definition to majority race – you are diluting their opportunities towards ownership outside Sri Lanka.

Sinhalese: The Jews would do anything to keep Israel developing, while the world Tamil population doesn't want to free Tamil Nadu from India, but would try to make a Tamil state in small Sri Lanka. Hence, discussion such as this comes about time to time.

Gaja: I have Jewish friends to whom Australia is home.   Those who USE Jewish State to show off – would promote war. I work against such in terms of Sri Lanka.  I am driven by my Truth.  Looks like YOU are promoting war in Sri Lanka. If there are no Tamils those forces would turn against other minorities and against your own race.  Are you then suggesting that Muslims go to Middle East and Burghers become stateless?  What kind of solution is that? We have to be a model globe – with Sri Lanka being a Nation of multicultural communities. When we emigrate – we need to become global. When we then interact with those who continue to reside in Sri Lanka – we help them become global without needing to leave home.  If you also did likewise – you would identify with my contribution. If you want me to be like your  Jews  – you are promoting Tamil Eelam. Tamil Nadu is not  home to majority Tamils in Sri Lanka. Our specialty is that we make a home of the place we emigrate to. I believe that the sacrifices we made to invest in higher education contributed strongly to this.

To me God created man with Divinity, the identity with which elevates human to Sovereign State. Family, Community, Country – help us get there. I explained this as follows to the Sinhalese:

Sinhalese: Do you find yourself as a member of the whole in Australia and as an Australian?

Gaja: ‘When a family feels a part of one section of community – it merges naturally to form community. Community likewise merges with other communities to form  nation. Some take the direct path of an individual.

I took that direct path here in Australia and yes, I do feel common with all Australians. I feel fellow Australians’ pain as mine.  I now share this with the Tamil Community of which I am a natural part – so that the Community could naturally merge to form / expand Australian Nation.’

I believe that for most of us realizing our Sovereignty starts with family. The Mother is the first service provider to the child and hence the Mother-Child relationship is the most Natural example from which relationships flow. The Mother who provides the service does so through her natural abilities. When she so provides without expecting material returns from the child – the Mother feels happy and complete in terms of the relationship. But with time, the child is able to look after her-himself. Then the positions have to be firmly identifiable and the gap between ‘service provider’ and ‘beneficiary’ is filled by the beneficiary expressing appreciation and/or showing respect. That is the natural way of maintaining the Sovereignty of any relationship.

 As the ‘family’ expands, developing the structure needed to maintain this ‘Sovereignty’ of the whole – becomes more and more challenging. But one who paid her/his  dues to service providers naturally merges with wider community/society. Likewise a service provider  who is satisfied with gratitude and/or respect from the beneficiary/child, progresses to become a natural leader of the community. Those who expect material benefits as settlement – stagnate at the local / primary level, without the forces that influence Natural Family support. They tend to use money as the measure and hence develop the tendency to separate as individuals.

One who has realized Sovereignty through parent-child relationship would be a good governor with the ability to develop structures to maintain the Sovereignty of the Nation. In terms of True pathways – the pathway through which this person travelled defines the most natural structure for that person and those who believe in that person. They usually are the Spiritual Leaders of a Nation. Their blessings naturally fill the ‘gaps’ in the structures of the official systems that their believers are part of. I believe that Religious leadership was based on this in most countries. It went wrong when instead of ‘filling’ the gaps they became the Government – as is obvious in Sri Lanka.

In Sri Lanka where Buddhist  monks continue to be considered as leaders by Sinhalese-Buddhist  politicians and where Buddhism has been given high status in the Constitution,  the risk is that monks who have not realized their Sovereignty as individuals and/or through their Buddhist Institution, would have a big gap between their True status and their allocated status. The risk of this being the case is high where children are recruited to become monks. In religions like Buddhism and Catholicism  priests do not marry and hence parents do not have the right to enroll their children in these institutions.  As per the laws of Sri Lanka – citizens  must be of voting age to express their own independent decisions. It should therefore be unlawful for a child to become a Buddhist Priest or a Catholic Priest until 18. Hindu Priests do marry and therefore they have the right to groom their children  to become priests. When parents push children for whatever reason into environments that are alien to the parents when they were children – the parents lose their connection to Sovereignty. Until the child becomes an independent adult – the child is part of the parent. If separated prematurely – the Sovereignty of that Relationship is damaged and therefore the Sovereignty of that family, community and country. Professor Gananath Obeyesekere, in his article ‘Child ordinations and the rights of children’ has stated in relation to Sri Lanka:

‘Recent newspaper articles, photographs and reports in our newspapers have given prominence to massive campaigns to recruit thousands of children to the Buddhist order with the Prime Minister himself urging the recruitment of two thousand children as novices.’

 The criticism of Sri Lankan Government in relation to  child-soldier recruitments by Tamil armed groups is of negative value due to the Government’s own promotion of child-ordinations. That leaves the problem in the hands of Tamil leaders to lead Tamils out of such practices. A Politician has the duty to groom politicians and not rebels. Sri Lankan Rebels who fought on the basis of  personal belief and have now accepted Political positions have the duty to groom Politicians and NOT rebels. Until Sinhalese address the child-ordination problem – and Tamils address child-recruitment problem – neither has the right to claim nationalism status. 

Once we take a ‘position’ the duties as per that position may require us to act against our own personal Truth. During the Great War of Mahabharatham, Prince Arjunan lost heart at the beginning of  the war – because his beloved grandfather Beeshmar was the leader of the Opposition. That was when Lord Krishna gave us the Bhagawath Geetha through which we learn that a person who is born a warrior and has received grooming as one – has the duty to fight to protect the Sovereignty of   his nation/people. By duty  Beeshmar was the head of the army of the opposition. Hence Arjunan had the conflict between his personal Truth at family level and his duty as per his position. Likewise Buddhist Politicians who are bound by the voting age has the duty to oppose child-ordination in Buddhism.

In her article Buddhist Violence in Burma & Sri Lanka, Ms Barbara Crossette highlights in relation to this:

[In Burma, missing from the reaction to the gruesome scenes of terrified Muslims killed and displaced are an unambiguous condemnation and moral leadership by Aung San Suu Kyi, whose father, Aung San, founded the Burmese army, with which she now works in transforming her country. While known around the world as an outspoken champion of democracy, she has now become a Burmese politician, careful not to take on the ethnic Burman Buddhist majority, the powerful monks or the military.

Monks were also fearless defenders of democracy, but the question that now arises is, Democracy for whom?]

When Ms Aung San Suu Kyi fought for democratic rights they were based on her personal beliefs and that is the parallel of Prince Arjun’s affection for his grandfather. Once Ms Suu Kyi took on the official position as a political leader – she has the DUTY to express as per that position.  This is also the case with many of us in relation to the ethnic issue in Sri Lanka. An outstanding example is the position of  Hon Wigneswaran – the Chief Minister of Northern Province of Sri Lanka – who is now being accused by some as being pro-LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) and also pro-Tamil Nadu in India. Once we take on leadership roles -  duty must come before personal beliefs. In that duty we would be facilitating majority in the group to achieve their goals through their own beliefs.  All beliefs merge at the destination of Truth. Hence the partiality is temporary for a greater purpose. 

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam – 04 June  2015

K. B. Sundarambal (left) as Nandanar and 

Maharajapuram Viswanathan Iyer as Brahmin

in the 1935 film Nandanar.

Majority-Minority Relationships

I believe that in any relationship – the higher contributor to the relationship is the leader – irrespective of what the social, official or cultural systems say. I believe also that to the extent the net value of our contributions to a relationship is positive we inherit the qualities that would be positive for the whole and would naturally boost our self-confidence.  Where the net value is negative we inherit the negative qualities that weaken the Natural Powers that work that institution, family, community or nation. Where we take the person through her/his position – relative to ours – we are relating to all those in that position in the past and at current times – for better or for worse. Where we take the person as an individual the relationship is limited to the individual – for better or for worse. In terms of a country – we could therefore relate to others through our relative status with the Government – the highest relative or as individuals. The Prime Minister of Australia could therefore be Head of that Government or just Mr. Abbott with his own personal qualities. Today, I read and responded to the following  Facebook message:

 “Australia is generally a tolerant society until a member of its minority demonstrates that they don’t know their place. The minute a member of the minority acts as though they are not a mere supplicant, we lose our minds”

I commented as follows:

‘We would lose our mind only if we believe that we are lesser. Those of us who believe we belong as per OUR contribution would help our predecessors not lose their minds. To feel that sense of belonging our contributions to the Common need to be of greater value than benefits drawn/received from the Common’

I have thus confirmed that I took the Common Position as ‘migrant’ which makes me a majority power and not minority power.  But to get there I had to renounce earned benefits from my official positions which were still under subjective leadership – and feel the confidence that I was the real leader – through net positive contribution to the relationship. In terms of the position of Prime Minister – I made the sacrifice when Mr. Howard was in that position and the return came through our current Prime Minister – Mr. Abbott who to my mind is more democratic than Mr. Howard was in that position.

A member of the minority could demonstrate that s/he does not know her/his place – meaning her/his earned position – as per her/his True contribution to the whole or may assume a position in Australia as per their past – in their country of origin.  One who truly earned that position in the past would be acting as per her/his Truth. But one who got that higher position through external influence and/or through inheritance without having paid their due respects at that place of origin – would be making a negative contribution to the new relationship in Australia. Such a position would therefore be false and would weaken the investment Australia has made in Independence/Sovereignty.

Within the Sri Lankan Community of both Tamil as well as Sinhalese ethnicities – we find more of the latter. I attribute the common cause for the Sinhalese to be their majority power in Sri Lanka and for the Tamils to be desiring the same majority power through ‘Tamil Eelam only’ ambitions. Most of these folks would go along with the Australian Government – not because they believe in the Australian Government but more because they have abandoned their Australianism to the Government. Majority Sri Lankan Tamils  outside Tamil Only areas  did just that back in Sri Lanka. Likewise majority Sri Lankan Sinhalese outside Sinhala Only areas. The above statement about minorities getting into trouble for not taking their places was clearly visible in Sri Lanka. We, the current generation have the opportunity to get it right for ourselves as well as for the younger generations. Often those who are ‘spoilt’ by their communities become the natural causes of conflict when they occupy the higher seat in a relationship – including by emigrating to money-richer countries.

Prior to the civil war in Sri Lanka, I could walk into any large institution and take my true position without needing any external influence. But within family I had to largely take my official position as allocated by family elders. Now I believe that the ‘sacrifice’ transformed into ‘Maintenance & Development Energy’ in terms of family and in parts of the community that is still hierarchical or is ready for democracy through equal position for the junior once the debt to the senior is settled. This settlement happens in many ways – including by the junior becoming a senior in another section of the extended family and/or  by attaining public status that adds value to the Common Family.

In Australia, as a migrant I took my allocated position – and not the official equal position as per the law, nor my earned position as per my Truth.   I now realize that this made me feel Australian much more quickly  than if I had demanded my official position of equality. By taking that allocated position as a new migrant, I was including all  our elders including our  First Australians also as my elders/seniors. Hence the relationship was easy to work. In terms of the current occupier of the other side of the relationship – I continue to work the relationship in most instances, due to that sacrifice and the relationship is completed at the higher level. When I am not able to – I complete that relationship at the lower level. I then include that discovery about the current occupier – to restructure the relationship in my mind – so that my investment in that position is reduced. This often is to allocate a position in the outer circle. That is how we restructure continuously when Truth is more important than particularly calculated and expected outcomes.

Until Tamils in Sinhalese areas and Sinhalese in Tamil areas take their true positions in Sri Lanka – our conflict will continue. The Judicial system in Sri Lanka has been polluted by Politics – not only due to Politicians interfering with the Judiciary but also due to Law-Makers being driven by votes rather than Equal Justice to all. In a nation where the law enforcement agencies have become weak – one needs to use Truth and one who genuinely cares about the whole – would.

Minorities in their countries of origin,  who abandon their status to their leaders and/or to Majority – come to new countries as dependents and this adds to Australia’s dependence tendencies. Independent minorities on the other hand strengthen Australia’s Independence Forces/Sovereignty. Likewise when the Diaspora participate in Independence Activities of their countries/cultures  of origin. Those who are independent would add Independence Power. Others would abandon one or the other or both for immediate pleasures. They would lack the power to Structure and Restructure. However low a relationship may be in status - once we work through and become independent of the relationship, we have realized the wholesome value of that relationship as well  ownership in the whole institution that the relationship is a part of. That is how whether we are Pariah or Brahmin/Cleaner or Vice Chancellor/ Rebel or President  – we become That.  

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam – 02 June  2015

Abuse of Death Penalty

As per today’s Daily News, Sri Lankan ‘President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said he would initiate a public dialogue to determine whether capital punishment would be implemented for those who are convicted of peddling, selling and distributing drugs including tablets.’ On reading this, the following message I picked up while updating myself about the progress in relation to the rape victim Miss Vithya Sivaloganathan flashed through my mind:

‘The President’s special attention was drawn to issues relating to the drug menace prevalent among school children in Jaffna. He said he would inform the security officers to be vigilant about this matter.’   http://english.ttnnews.com/2015/05/26/president-maithripala-sirisena-met-the-parents-of-sivaloganathan-vithya/

When reading that report – I felt it was inappropriate timing. Today when I read the above message about Death Penalty – the penny dropped. Former President Mr. Rajapaksa made  Terrorism a Political issue.  The current President is pushing the drug issue. The above Daily News paper goes on to report: ‘President Sirisena also said Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne who is also committed to the control and prevention of this menace in the country has been selected for the World No Tobacco Day Award this year.

He said he received the same award for his dedication towards the control and prevention of tobacco related product in 2013.’

If  President Sirisena and Minister Senaratne are teetotalers, we appreciate that very much. But is that alone enough to discuss through public dialogue - death penalty for traffickers? My Sri Lanka is an educated nation. My Jaffna Education says – ‘If the World No Tobacco Day Award was effective – two years after Mr. Sirisena received that award – we ought to be witnessing lower levels of this drug menace and not higher levels requiring the consideration of Death Penalty.’ 

Natural Justice

My Hindu belief in Karma is leading me to conclude that the excessive use of external knowledge – in areas like death penalty where belief in Natural Justice ought to be the driving force – would return to the Authority using it.  The LTTE used it to kill Politicians who contributed to the Self-Governance investments Tamils made – consciously or otherwise – over  a long period; former President Rajapaksa used it to eliminate LTTE whose  official status was below that of the Government; We observed the Indonesian President use it for Political purposes when he refused to grant Clemency to those who demonstrated that they had reformed themselves and now  we Sri Lankans are facing similar threats by the current Government.

Belief or Thought?

LTTE claimed that they were fighting for Self-Governance. To the extent they believed that to be the cause of their fighting  – they were defending and not attacking. The outcomes through such actions are for the consumption of Tamils. In terms of Natural Justice therefore – actions to protect  one’s Sovereignty earn credit as contributions to Peace. Hence those Tamils who believe that they were protected by the LTTE – are part of the positive side. Those who ‘think’ largely through external forces – including to ‘win and show’ are of the negative side.

Consumer or Supplier?

Hence using this basis – on the intoxicant issue - consumers of  intoxicants are also guilty. A parent who would do all possible to bring her/ his child out of  the habit of consumption of intoxicants,  including killing the child so there is no bad example in the family – is entitled to use the Death Penalty for Political purposes. A law should be applicable at the citizens’ level and in-between – with the degree of punishment or reward varying as per the official hierarchy.

In terms of the Parliament – therefore, what penalty does the President have in mind for members of Parliament who are known (need not be proven) to be consumers of intoxicants? Immediate Dismissal? Likewise in Public Service? What about the Armed Forces? Would all heads of Armed Forces be required to declare under oath – that they are teetotalers? On that basis – as per my knowledge - LTTE leaders would rank higher than those of the Armed Forces of the Government. The root cause is the consumer. A politician is not likely to  punish the consumer where s/he knows that majority in the electorate would not vote for her/him if such punishment were enforced. If I have diabetes – there is little point in blaming the sugar trader. Likewise, killing the trader is not going to cure drug users.

I conclude that this issue has been surfaced to gain points with blind followers looking to the Government to do something. We the citizens need to keep our eyes and ears open to protect our families – much more than we did previously. Recently, we heard that a six year old child had been raped in Kilinochchi area – the battle area in Sri Lanka - when she was returning from school.  Parents in Tamil areas in Sri Lanka need to take care of their children – especially daughters – before Tamil politicians in opposition  point the finger at the Armed Forces for such incidents.  Where such finger pointing is excessive – the loss returns to the blamer.

Most Sri Lankans are religious and therefore believe in God to varying degrees.  Once we have done all possible to correct the wrong – we need to submit it to the Lord’s system.  When we do this and do so sincerely – we will find the solution happening through the pathway of Truth and our belief in that Truth. Those who take their positions as per their true contributions to the issue  - would identify with the solution. During my school days eve- teasing was a serious threat in Jaffna. There were instances when men abusively touched inside our Prestigious Nallur Temple during festivals - when there was little room to punish that civilian. But to the extent the victims including myself cursed the perpetrators – they would have got their punishment through the women in their life and their own bodies made less powerful  by those curses. That is how God’s system works. Likewise in terms of Terrorism / War crimes also. The Death Penalty if implemented genuinely – may end up claiming more lives than did the war. Sri Lanka has enough human resources to cure this problem through families and community groups. It would be such a shame to abandon it to outsiders.

In any case, if this is a reality in Sri Lanka – then the officers who have the authority to arrest and hear the matter at the primary level – have to be of the one culture. The Bali 9 decision was immoral due to Muslim President punishing through death penalty,  non-Muslims for an offense that happened in Hindu Bali. In one instance the Australian Court system rejected my claim of defamation on the basis that the defamatory statements were made in Sri Lanka – even though influenced by Australian Tamils. The honorable judge stated that it was out of Australian Jurisdiction. The matter then went into the Court of Natural Justice because I believe I am Global – which means the Earth is One Land.

The place where the incident happens also empowers and is empowered. This is why we Australians pay our respects to Indigenous Australians who took care of this Land before any other culture did and who continue to live close to the Land. Hence when something happens the Land also contributes its share through those who believe in the land as well as  those who disrespect it. Sri Lanka already carries a high degree of  karma for  punishment by death due to rebellions and ethnic riots.  Let’s leave it to Nature to punish by death – the families and friends. The person who gets killed does not suffer as much as the family and friends and the community that s/he is a part of. Hence Death Penalty if used without belief carries the risk of the Authority punishing the families, friends and community more than the offender. To the extent that Authority feels part of this community – s/he would not kill unless s/he believes it to be her/his higher painful duty. The higher duty in this regard needs to be with the Governor and not the Politician. An elected President does not have the moral authority to decide in relation to Death Penalty. 

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam – 01 June  2015

Education vs Politics in Jaffna Schools

According to news reports from Jaffna – Tamil students are asking for the Death Penalty for the rapists of Miss Vithya Sivaloganathan. Many Tamils within the Diaspora have pointed the finger at politicians. Former President of Sri Lanka, Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa himself has drawn attention to this matter while warning his supporters about LTTE resurrection. That was a political position taken in this issue.  As I stated to a fellow community member – we need to take our ‘due positions’ as per our true investment in the community, for us to be able to have our share of the experience of the ‘whole’.

My substantive position in this is through my investment in Education – through my own investment as an outstanding student of Jaffna and my ongoing investment in education through many projects including our Training Center in Vaddukoddai and our School of Human Values in Thunaivi -  a village similar in culture  to Neduntheevu where the recent  tragedy happened. I doubt that these students who are protesting so strongly would have asked for the severest of punishments for students who also are guilty of rape. Tamil political activists have distracted these students from finding ‘internal’ solutions first and leave politics to politicians. The placard carried by the students says ‘Would this have happened if those who should be here were here?’  I read it as ‘If LTTE were here it would not have happened’. Why is this not political influence through student minds?

One does not need higher education to ask such questions. Students who ask such questions must vacate their places for those who seek to realize self-governance through educational pursuits first instead of politics. Yesterday, some sections of the Tamil community were mourning the damage to the Jaffna Public Library 34 years ago. There were no signs of these students participating in those memorial services. This confirms that the students are more interested in Politics than in Education.

Those to whom Education comes before Politics – would research and find the Truth and then publish their work. Tamils as a community invest in Divine Powers. As per Hindu Legend – Mother Khali is the Goddess of those who are emotionally driven. Then comes Mother Lakshmi – the Goddess of Money Wealth. At the tertiary level, we pray to Mother Saraswathee – the Goddess of Education. That Divine Energy is One. We see the form as per our own investment in a particular pathway. Those who seek through the education pathway would need to view the issue intellectually – for it to be of global/scientific value. Once students come to the public level through the political pathway – they confirm that their investment in education is for political purposes. The Jaffna Tamil community as a whole loses status as a high investor in education, when students turn to politics even before they are eligible to vote. They confirm why we as a Community produced child-soldiers.

Sri Lankan Tamil community is guilty of exploiting children for adult work. During the war – the LTTE claimed that it was for the purpose of freedom. If that were true – then during post-war – should not the children be encouraged to study and seek independence through educational pursuits? When each one of us is able to certify ourselves as independent persons – not because someone else says so or because we ‘physically possess/occupy’ but because we carry wisdom / Truth  – we are truly a self-governing community. The wisdom in each mind is the real  ‘Library’ of the community. The building and books were burnt and those of us who apply the ashes confirming wisdom, become the Vedas carrying the Truth of Jaffna. Let’s not pollute it with cheap politics.

One supporter of the LTTE who also carries the Professional title allocated by others -  stated that I ought to be writing only once every month or so – and not every day. As per my observations – majority women in the Tamil Diaspora as well as in Sri Lanka,  watch Indian Tamil Tele Dramas every day. Those are Indian  and yet there is no protest against such addiction!  Our Destiny is written by ‘us’ including through our life – choices. We invest in war – we get war. Whether we recognize it or not Truth does its duty.  Those who truly believe in Truth will identify with this part of the picture – the only part that really matters. Students who care must express themselves through their parents and schools. Once they go direct – they lose the protection of those higher positions. They thus contribute to weakening the security of higher institutional structures. Why blame others when our backyard needs cleaning up? If Truth is what we truly seek – we need to ask for LTTE to be punished with death penalty for killing our politicians – including Alfred Thuraiappah who as Mayor of Jaffna opened the refurbished Library in 1959. Here the LTTE is the LTTE in our minds. The higher way is to include the wrong-doers through our higher values and transform them as internals and not as externals.