Is the Tamil Diaspora really concerned about Tamils in Sri Lanka?

By Malinda Seneviratne

(May 03, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) David Miliband and Bernard Kouchner, the foreign minister of Britain and France, respectively, may be rather ignorant. Their bullishness can perhaps be attributed to this; they are out of tune with global realities and probably still believe they are living in the 18th century. They came. Sorry, they strutted in. They saw. They heard. And they left with their tails tucked under their legs. Had they heard what the LTTE’s chief translator, ‘George Master’ had to say, they might have learnt that they are way off the mark regarding the situation in the No Fire Zone (NFZ). If they have the guts they would educate the Tamil Diaspora agitating like there’s no tomorrow in London, Paris and elsewhere, but I doubt they will.

Still, there is something redeeming about these gentlemen. Their concern, they say, is ‘civilians’. They are terribly worried about the civilians held hostage by Prabhakaran and they seem incapable of stomaching the fact that it was not diplomacy and not ‘humanitarian pause’ that helped free over 115,000 civilians, but well planned and admirably executed military strategy. And yet, it is also true that Britain and France have both pledged concrete support for civilians who have succeeded in reaching Government-controlled areas. In other words they’ve earned the right to express concern about those who are still in the LTTE’s clutches.

This is in stark contrast with the Tamil Diaspora. It seems that they are only concerned about civilians who are being forced to function as a human shied for the remaining LTTE leaders.

There may be many reasons why Tamils in other countries are taking to the streets. They may genuinely believe what the LTTE and its proxies are telling them. They may be worried about their own secure futures if and when the LTTE is totally defeated. They may be doing it for the heck of it. Whatever the reason, they are not helping their cause by being selective about which civilians to be concerned about. If it is Tamil civilians they are worried about, then they should be equally concerned about Tamil civilians in the NFZ and those outside. The fact of the matter is, the Tamil Diaspora has by and large abandoned all those who have fled the LTTE.

Today it is the Government, with the support of well-meaning friends in the international community, that is taking care of these people; under trying circumstances of course. The conditions in IDP camps are far from ideal, but all those who have visited these camps are in agreement that the conditions are a) far better than what they, the IDPs, experienced in the NFZ, and b) are certainly as good or better than conditions in such centres in other parts of the world. The Government has already begun the process of resettlement and if the track record in the East is anything to go by (and of course in the post-tsunami situation), then there will be little to complain about by the end of the year.

It must be mentioned that the ordinary citizens of this country and especially the so-called chauvinistic Sinhala Buddhists who have nothing better to do than perpetrate genocide, are far more concerned about their brethren in the IDP camps than the Tamil Diaspora. The lorries have started to move towards the North. Even at a time of economic hardship, it is certainly heartening to note that the ordinary people of this country have come forward to do the best they can for their fellow-citizens. These stories may never make it to the BBC, but we have to keep in mind that this is as much Sri Lankanness as anything else.

We are a nation that places much value on being there in word and deed during times of distress, even in the case of an enemy. We are a nation that turns into a dansala at least twice a year. Giving is not foreign to us. It is very much a part of who we are. This is why the saner elements of the agitating sections of the Tamil Diaspora would do well to think about helping the Tamil community here in Sri Lanka. Sure, have your demonstrations, play the political game, but spare a thought for all those who are today living in welfare centres, regardless of who is to blame for their sorry situation.

There is a time to scream and a time to be sober. There is a time to take to the streets and a time to ask oneself what one has achieved. The Tamil Diaspora, led by known LTTE-agents was hell bent on sending a ship to Mullaitivu (supposedly filled with relief items). Such largesse is conspicuously absent today. Sooner or later the Tamil people living in Sri Lanka will ask why and the Tamil Diaspora will have to hang its collective head in shame.

Tragic times bring the best and worst out. It looks as though it is bringing the best in Sri Lankans living in this island. It would be sad indeed if it only brought out the worst in the Tamil Diaspora.

Malinda Seneviratne is a freelance writer who edits the monthly magazine ‘Spectrum’. He can be contacted at malinsene@gmail.com.

-Sri Lanka Guardian