The Sri Lankan government has scrapped the Tamil version of the island nation’s national anthem – “Sri Lanka Matha”. From now onwards the anthem will be sung in all official and state functions in only Sinhala language.
This is the latest proof of the current Sri Lankan government’s blatantly discriminatory attitude towards the hapless Tamil citizens of that country, for whom Sri Lanka has always been a “step motherland”.
It seems Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa (the CEO of Sri Lanka Pvt. Ltd.) was a very poor student of History at school. Or probably he has never studied History at all. Otherwise he would not have been so poor at learning lessons from the recent History of his country.
All I can say is that the way the ethnic Tamils of Sri Lanka are being discriminated against, the birth of another Prabhakaran is just a matter of time.
Showing posts with label Sri Lanka. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sri Lanka. Show all posts
Monday, December 13, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
The Questionable Arrest Of Gen. Sarath Fonseka Of Sri Lanka
It may be just a wild guess encouraged by something which is a plain coincidence. However, the world is predictably finding it very hard to believe that the ongoing government actions against the former Sri Lankan Army Chief Sarath Fonseka have nothing to do with his failed challenge to the re-election bid of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
As I said that it may be just a coincidence that the initiation of government actions against the war hero came close to the heels of his high-pitched “Presidential” fight against Mr. Rajapaksa. However, there are a couple of factors that are forcing the world to believe that all these government actions (including the controversial arrest of the beleaguered former army chief) are actually being carried out to “punish” the “audacious” soldier for daring to challenge the incumbent President in his re-election bid.
For example, let us look at this charge against General Sarath Fonseka that he had started plotting and conspiring against Mahinda Rajapaksa even when he was still the Army Chief. Fine. But in that case why did not the Sri Lankan Army take any actions against him at that very point of time? He was permitted to retain his office, and he eventually played a crucial role in giving the final blow to LTTE. There were no actions against him even after he quit his Army position. It is only after he contested against Rajapaksa and failed to “dethrone” the latter that the government has suddenly become aware of his illegal activities, and has started taking actions.
OK, it may be so that the government was unaware of Sarath Fonseka’s offensive activities when he was the Army Chief, and incidentally came to know about the same only after the recent Presidential election (the “coincidence” angle that I was referring to). But in that case the Sri Lankan government was expected to make it very clear to the nation as well as the world, thus leaving no rooms for any rumours. Was it very difficult for the government to understand that the timing of Fonseka’s arrest would raise questions and doubts in the minds of people?
Another thing that “apparently” reflects the Sri Lankan government’s vindictive approach is the manner in which the once revered Army Chief was arrested. The basic human rights principles demand that even when a petty criminal is arrested and taken into custody, it should be done with some dignity. And this former war hero was held by hands and feet, and dragged away by the Military Police. How humiliating it must have been for the person to be treated in this way by the same people who used to salute him till the other day. And after arresting him the government was seemingly not even eager to disclose his whereabouts, at least not initially (though later Fonseka’s wife was permitted to meet him).
Anyways, as I have said that all these may have been just a case of coincidence, sending a baseless smell of a foul play while the actual reality is completely different. If the former General has really done something wrong then he must be punished. And in that case the Sri Lankan government has certainly not done anything wrong by initiating actions against him.
However, the government must appreciate this fact that the timing of the actions is sending this message to the world that everything is not fair and square in this “Sarath Fonseka drama”. And, this doubt is gradually gaining ground. So if the Sri Lankan government is confident that it is on the right side of ethics, then it must carry out all the related activities with utmost clarity and transparency, while involving the global media in every step. This will ensure that there is no room for any rumour, with no chance for the Sri Lankan government’s credibility coming under question.
As I said that it may be just a coincidence that the initiation of government actions against the war hero came close to the heels of his high-pitched “Presidential” fight against Mr. Rajapaksa. However, there are a couple of factors that are forcing the world to believe that all these government actions (including the controversial arrest of the beleaguered former army chief) are actually being carried out to “punish” the “audacious” soldier for daring to challenge the incumbent President in his re-election bid.
For example, let us look at this charge against General Sarath Fonseka that he had started plotting and conspiring against Mahinda Rajapaksa even when he was still the Army Chief. Fine. But in that case why did not the Sri Lankan Army take any actions against him at that very point of time? He was permitted to retain his office, and he eventually played a crucial role in giving the final blow to LTTE. There were no actions against him even after he quit his Army position. It is only after he contested against Rajapaksa and failed to “dethrone” the latter that the government has suddenly become aware of his illegal activities, and has started taking actions.
OK, it may be so that the government was unaware of Sarath Fonseka’s offensive activities when he was the Army Chief, and incidentally came to know about the same only after the recent Presidential election (the “coincidence” angle that I was referring to). But in that case the Sri Lankan government was expected to make it very clear to the nation as well as the world, thus leaving no rooms for any rumours. Was it very difficult for the government to understand that the timing of Fonseka’s arrest would raise questions and doubts in the minds of people?
Another thing that “apparently” reflects the Sri Lankan government’s vindictive approach is the manner in which the once revered Army Chief was arrested. The basic human rights principles demand that even when a petty criminal is arrested and taken into custody, it should be done with some dignity. And this former war hero was held by hands and feet, and dragged away by the Military Police. How humiliating it must have been for the person to be treated in this way by the same people who used to salute him till the other day. And after arresting him the government was seemingly not even eager to disclose his whereabouts, at least not initially (though later Fonseka’s wife was permitted to meet him).
Anyways, as I have said that all these may have been just a case of coincidence, sending a baseless smell of a foul play while the actual reality is completely different. If the former General has really done something wrong then he must be punished. And in that case the Sri Lankan government has certainly not done anything wrong by initiating actions against him.
However, the government must appreciate this fact that the timing of the actions is sending this message to the world that everything is not fair and square in this “Sarath Fonseka drama”. And, this doubt is gradually gaining ground. So if the Sri Lankan government is confident that it is on the right side of ethics, then it must carry out all the related activities with utmost clarity and transparency, while involving the global media in every step. This will ensure that there is no room for any rumour, with no chance for the Sri Lankan government’s credibility coming under question.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Media Freedom Thrashed in Sri Lanka
The picturesque Indian Ocean island of Sri Lanka witnessed a blatant attack on the freedom of media, when the Colombo High Court sentenced the country's noted journalist J.S. Tissainayagam to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.
So what is his fault? Well, there are two. Firstly, this Tamil columnist has been found guilty of threatening country's ethnic harmony, as he has written two articles which the Court has found to be detrimental for the same. Secondly, (this is highly controversial) he has reportedly confessed to (in custody, to be precise) raising funds for supporting terrorist activities.
However, what the media fraternity feels (rather, it is sanguine) that all the charges brought against Tissainayagam are pure absurd. Actually he has highlighted the harassment of innocent Tamils of Sri Lanka in the hands of the government agencies, and has criticized the government for the same. And it is this "audacity" that the Sri Lankan government has been unable to digest.
The media fraternity also feels that by getting Tissainayagam imprisoned the Sri Lankan government has also tried to intimidate the other journalists, so that they do not dare to criticize the government on any issues.
We all appreciated the Rajapakshe government's ruthless campaign against LTTE terrorists, who had become a cancer for the beautiful island nation. However, the government is well advised not to show the same ruthlessness against the freedom of expression. The government must realize that it is responsible for providing the Sri Lankan people with a civilized society, and no society can be termed civilized if it lacks freedom of expression, which is one of the pillars of the same.
We all hope that better sense will prevail, and Tissainayagam will be freed as soon as possible. Let's hope for the best.
So what is his fault? Well, there are two. Firstly, this Tamil columnist has been found guilty of threatening country's ethnic harmony, as he has written two articles which the Court has found to be detrimental for the same. Secondly, (this is highly controversial) he has reportedly confessed to (in custody, to be precise) raising funds for supporting terrorist activities.
However, what the media fraternity feels (rather, it is sanguine) that all the charges brought against Tissainayagam are pure absurd. Actually he has highlighted the harassment of innocent Tamils of Sri Lanka in the hands of the government agencies, and has criticized the government for the same. And it is this "audacity" that the Sri Lankan government has been unable to digest.
The media fraternity also feels that by getting Tissainayagam imprisoned the Sri Lankan government has also tried to intimidate the other journalists, so that they do not dare to criticize the government on any issues.
We all appreciated the Rajapakshe government's ruthless campaign against LTTE terrorists, who had become a cancer for the beautiful island nation. However, the government is well advised not to show the same ruthlessness against the freedom of expression. The government must realize that it is responsible for providing the Sri Lankan people with a civilized society, and no society can be termed civilized if it lacks freedom of expression, which is one of the pillars of the same.
We all hope that better sense will prevail, and Tissainayagam will be freed as soon as possible. Let's hope for the best.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Post LTTE Sri Lanka – The Innocent Tamils Must Not Be Confused With The LTTE Cadres
First, a bagful of congratulations for the brave hearts of the Sri Lankan army, for ultimately achieving (it is now just a matter of time) what they have been trying to achieve for such a long time – the elimination of LTTE menace, thus bringing peace for their beautiful mother land. Having grown up in India, a country so badly affected by terrorism, I have witnessed since my childhood how unhesitatingly our soldiers and other security personnel shed their blood for protecting their countrymen from the peril of terrorism, and thus fully understand the value of the service delivered by the gutsy Sri Lankan soldiers for their beloved countrymen. Our Sri Lankan friends, brothers and sisters must feel proud that they have such a courageous army.
Now, with the LTTE being on the verge of final crumbling, it is time to think over a crucial question - what will be the status of the ethnic Tamils in the post-LTTE Sri Lanka?
While discussing this question, the very first thing that we all must understand is that the innocent Tamils of Sri Lanka have absolutely no connections with the dreaded LTTE. So, any attempt to treat these Tamil civilians as a part of that terrorist group will be absolutely outrageous. Rather, the truth is that they are the most hapless people in that country. On one hand they have suffered due to the LTTE menace in the same way that their Sinhalese brothers have suffered (in fact, the Tamils have suffered more, as there was forced grafting of young children by the LTTE). And on the other hand, ironically, they have faced hatred and malice from the Sinhalese community just for the “crime” of belonging to the same community that Prabhakaran and his followers come from.
Our Sinhalese friends absolutely cannot be blamed for developing an ill-feeling for their fellow Tamil countrymen. When a country suffers from terrorism, it is very natural for the people of that country to develop a feeling of malice against the people of that community from where the terrorist group draws most of its strength. The LTTE, the self-proclaimed messiah of the Sri Lankan Tamils, have sucked the blood of the Sri Lankans for such a long time. And it is quite natural that the ordinary Sinhalese people are not very much fond of the ethnic Tamils of that country. It is just the outcome of a basic human emotion.
However, an emotion can not be justified simply because it is a natural development. Our Sinhalese brothers and sisters must understand that whereas they have certainly gone through a terribly bad phase due to LTTE’s mindless activities, the innocent Tamils of that country were by no means responsible for that. Therefore, under no circumstances our dear Sinhalese friends should channelize their justified anger against LTTE towards their Tamil brothers and sisters, who, I repeat, have been the victims of LTTE menace in the same way as they themselves have been.
Rather, I will request them to welcome their fellow Tamil countrymen with cordiality and warmth, helping the latter to overcome the unnecessary complex and guilty feeling that they are suffering from for being from the community that LTTE has claimed to be fighting for. As I have already said that the Sri Lankan Tamils have actually been worse sufferers in comparison to the Sinhalese, because they have faced the double blow of being the victim of LTTE menace and also being suspected of collaborating with the same. What they now need (and rightfully deserve) is sympathy and love of their Sinhalese friends, and not malice and hatred.
Our Sinhalese brothers and sisters must ensure that their fellow Tamil countrymen can continue to live in their mother land with equal dignity and status, without facing any unjustified discrimination or malice. Let us not forget it that while nobody can justify what LTTE has done in this beautiful country for so many years, it did get a space to grow because there were indeed some discriminations against the ethnic Tamils. The Sri Lankan history is replete with proofs and evidences that for long the ethnic Tamils had been treated like “second class citizens”. And it was this constant discrimination that resulted in a strong grievance among the community, which eventually resulted in the monster called LTTE.
Therefore, our beloved Sinhalese friends must ensure that there is no more such discriminations and injustice against the ethnic Tamils, and that they are treated absolutely at par with their Sinhalese brothers. Now with the long elusive peace being there in the horizon, the Sinhalese and the Tamil communities of the country must start working hand-in-hand for the utmost development of this beautiful gem on the Indian Ocean, a spectacular country that I will love to visit someday.
Photo Courtesy - www.daylife.com
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