I'm compelled to write this article to clarify misconceptions created by popular English media about the Tamils' sentiments in the affairs of our neighbouring Srilanka. The issue has once again come to the forefront of national television debate and seen as an instance of regional polity arm twisting national foreign policy, in the wake PMs decision to not attend CHOGM in Colombo. The sentiments are often articulated in news rooms and debates as sympathy for the, now defunct, terrorist outfit LTTE. Here I argue that it is not the case.
First of all, yes there may be a few sympathisers in TN for LTTE, its cadre and founder, but most Tamils regard the organization much the same as LeT or Al Qaeda and have no sympathy for it whatsoever.
That stated, secondly the Tamils feel a sense of closeness to the ones across the Palk strait with whom they share their language, being a society closely connected to its language. Come as hypocritically as it may sound, it is true that we feel all the more affected when human rights violations are directed against Tamils; especially ones so close at hand. We believe we have a moral duty to protect their human rights as much we would guard ours. And our failure to fulfil this assumed duty frustrates us; only compounded by regional political parties playing to the vote banks doing precious little to placate the plight of the Srilankan Tamils.
Thirdly, and quite significant to the context of CHOGM, is the fact that the sentiment espoused by the regional parties and members of other national parties are pressed on the parties by the people of TN and is not the usual political sensitization of a community.
Fourthly, citizens voice finds legitimate expression in public policies in a democracy and rightly so, so long as it's reasonable. And the operating concern (not just sentiments) of the Tamils (Indian) are not only reasonable as explained, but also the only right course. Justice is two prong in a situation like this- rehabilitation of the victims and punishment to the perpetrators. While progress along rehabilitating is real however tardy, efforts to bring to book the violators is completely absent. It is in this wake that the Tamils are pressing for the PM to act, for once, in some way that will posture us as a nation genuinely concerned about the fate of human right abuses; something that we should have done even without the Tamils insistence.
Having articulated the three important facts I genuinely think that the question of PMs attendance has gained so much controversy due to the PMs refusal to deal with the demands of the Tamils (Indian) decisively, for once.The PMO should have pro actively engaged with the Tamils over their demands explaining his stance in the clearest of terms without compromising the Tamils' sentiments.
Ideally he should have done one of the two things, below :
1) Cancel his attendance and inform Colombo that India will not tolerate rights violations against Tamils and that demonstrated progress on the issue is expedient to sustaining healthy ties between the two nations.
or
2) Confirm his attendance to the meet, while assuring Indians that he will impress the weight of the Tamil sentiments on the Colombo establishment. And work for an peaceful resolution.
But, the PM has done neither. He's avoided the meeting, sent his delegation and a letter best construed as one of apology; in effect adding to the confusion abounding the initial question, "should/shouldn't he go to Colombo".
The Tamils or regional parties can hardly be blamed for the spineless approach of the government that starves the real problem; which to re-emphasize again is the abuses to the human rights of Srlankan Tamils and not any body's sympathy for the cadres of former LTTE.
First of all, yes there may be a few sympathisers in TN for LTTE, its cadre and founder, but most Tamils regard the organization much the same as LeT or Al Qaeda and have no sympathy for it whatsoever.
That stated, secondly the Tamils feel a sense of closeness to the ones across the Palk strait with whom they share their language, being a society closely connected to its language. Come as hypocritically as it may sound, it is true that we feel all the more affected when human rights violations are directed against Tamils; especially ones so close at hand. We believe we have a moral duty to protect their human rights as much we would guard ours. And our failure to fulfil this assumed duty frustrates us; only compounded by regional political parties playing to the vote banks doing precious little to placate the plight of the Srilankan Tamils.
Thirdly, and quite significant to the context of CHOGM, is the fact that the sentiment espoused by the regional parties and members of other national parties are pressed on the parties by the people of TN and is not the usual political sensitization of a community.
Fourthly, citizens voice finds legitimate expression in public policies in a democracy and rightly so, so long as it's reasonable. And the operating concern (not just sentiments) of the Tamils (Indian) are not only reasonable as explained, but also the only right course. Justice is two prong in a situation like this- rehabilitation of the victims and punishment to the perpetrators. While progress along rehabilitating is real however tardy, efforts to bring to book the violators is completely absent. It is in this wake that the Tamils are pressing for the PM to act, for once, in some way that will posture us as a nation genuinely concerned about the fate of human right abuses; something that we should have done even without the Tamils insistence.
Having articulated the three important facts I genuinely think that the question of PMs attendance has gained so much controversy due to the PMs refusal to deal with the demands of the Tamils (Indian) decisively, for once.The PMO should have pro actively engaged with the Tamils over their demands explaining his stance in the clearest of terms without compromising the Tamils' sentiments.
Ideally he should have done one of the two things, below :
1) Cancel his attendance and inform Colombo that India will not tolerate rights violations against Tamils and that demonstrated progress on the issue is expedient to sustaining healthy ties between the two nations.
or
2) Confirm his attendance to the meet, while assuring Indians that he will impress the weight of the Tamil sentiments on the Colombo establishment. And work for an peaceful resolution.
But, the PM has done neither. He's avoided the meeting, sent his delegation and a letter best construed as one of apology; in effect adding to the confusion abounding the initial question, "should/shouldn't he go to Colombo".
The Tamils or regional parties can hardly be blamed for the spineless approach of the government that starves the real problem; which to re-emphasize again is the abuses to the human rights of Srlankan Tamils and not any body's sympathy for the cadres of former LTTE.
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