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By Thomas Johnpulle
(July 22, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) The need of the hour is a practical and workable solution, not a collection of utopian wish lists. But there is nothing wrong about dreaming; it is after all part of the wide exploration process essential for a creative solution. The limits of it are, however, practicality and relevance. Tamil Eelam struggle was never an external issue as far as Sri Lanka is concerned. It was always an internal issue and it was handled that way. Presence of LTTE cells and Tamil Eelam groups abroad doesn’t mean it is an external issue. Pressure coming from them was totally disregarded by Sri Lanka. Their pressure jolted their host countries to take up the matter with Sri Lanka. What trickled down this way was the only effect it had.
Practicability of a solution has various attributes; survivability, relevance, rationality, timeliness and adequacy are some of these attributes.
Survivability
Most importantly, the solution has to survive in Sri Lanka! It is not possible to have external guardians for an unpopular “solution” all the time. The moment it faces democracy, it will be torn to pieces for no fault of anyone. If not, it will be partially or totally disregarded. For instance the 13th Amendment was not fully implemented. Even when it was partly implemented, the North-Eastern Provincial Council was dissolved in 1989 and there was no council for years. If the “solution” constantly needs the presence of the IPKF or any other PKF, or threats are needed to keep it in place, or deception has to be employed to protect it, that is not a solution.
Why we need a practical and consensual solution cannot be emphasised enough. Such a solution does not trespass into individual rights of others and certainly not into national rights including democracy and sovereignty. Instead it constantly benefits all sections of the population and the nation. Scrapping it costs the people and the nation and therefore it will be nurtured voluntarily.
A nation for 80 million Tamils
I love to live in a Tamil nation, wherever it is. Better still, I love to live in my own little island. Tamils numbering over 80 million the world over prefer a nation of their own. However, this is irrelevant as far as Sri Lanka is concerned which cannot be bothered about offering a nation for 80 million world Tamils. Instead Sri Lanka should only be concerned about a better life for its citizens. How relevant a power sharing agreement between Sri Lanka and Tamils is to the Sinhalas, Muslims, Malays, others? How relevant it is to the nation of Sri Lanka? If truth is to be told, not much.
If the questions were to be reworded to include all individuals, then it becomes remarkably relevant. Sinhalese, Muslims and others will be fighting alongside Tamils to promote and save it.
This underlies a critical need for a Sri Lankan solution. Sovereignty and democracy are not just helpful, but also are the pillars of the solution.
Denting Sri Lankan sovereignty to create Tamil sovereignty is absurd
The de facto state of Tigers built by guns, bombs and violence was reduced to nothingness using the same devices. Therefore it makes no sense in denting the Sri Lankan sovereignty to make room for Tamil sovereignty. Rationality should prevail over those who demand solutions and those who give solutions. One main reason for the failure of Tigers was their complete irrationality.
Victorious government after winning the war must tread rationality at all times. A momentary slip into irrationality and undemocratic means will make Sri Lankans the laughing stock of the world. Best fortification of national sovereignty is respect earned from other countries by adhering to democratic norms. This was something the de facto Tiger land always failed.
Time specific
A solution right for the pre-2009 era is not suitable for post-2009 era. Pre-2009, there was a territory where another group maintained their own set of laws, courts, police and public order.. Now it is not so and the government has to maintain law and order in these areas as per Lankan laws. There will not be sole representatives anymore. Consensual and secular politics is the name of the game. Sadly, some Eelamists are still in their dream world. Their model solutions are based on the presence of the LTTE. Needless to say, those are non-starters.
Adequacy
An inadequate solution is not a solution. From day one after the solution, discontented individuals will be vying for more. That leads to another struggle. At the same time if no adequate protections are reserved for Sri Lanka, the “solution” will end up a problem. If the solution is based on equal individual rights, and not on territorial and communal bases, problems of adequacy don’t arise, both ways. In that event there would be no blurred boundaries and no threat of disintegration.
Rights come with responsibilities. Rights obtained from Sri Lanka, cast an equal responsibility towards Sri Lanka. Continued enjoyment of rights depends on how best responsibilities towards Sri Lanka and fellow Sri Lankans are discharged.
Obviously, very few solutions will pass all these criteria. Those that pass this test will survive and prosper. Those that fail this test, although backed by international actors, will fail. A failed solution is only good as no solution at all. That is why getting it right the first time is so important.
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