| by Gajalakshmi
Paramasivam
(
November 18, 2012, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) I write in response to the analysis published by Sri Lanka Guardian, under
the heading ‘Autonomy within unitary structure paradoxical: Peter Schalk’
Professor Schalk
states ‘Sri Lanka’s ambassador in France, Dayan Jayatilleke, calling for
“autonomy within a unitary structure,” at a seminar in Paris earlier this month
was a political-populist statement ………The seminar in the locality of the CNRS
was a propaganda meeting for the policy of the Sri Lankan Government from the
beginning to the end. The ambassador came up with the usual and expected
anti-LTTE attacks: The LTTE did not want to negotiate and therefore a war of
total annihilation of the LTTE in the final end in 2009 was justified…….The
ambassador’s tirades of hate against the LTTE has taken sickly proportions and
is a true obstacle to reconciliation between a large Tamil population in Paris
(“La Chapelle”) and his embassy. According to him the Sinhalas have
a justified fear of the 70 millions of Tamils in South India where still the
LTTE is supported.’
This is also a
serious issue in relation to Australians of Sri Lankan origin – from both
sides. If we do not come to terms with it and know for ourselves why we feel
the way we feel – we would be leaving behind lesser value than we
inherited when we were born or migrated to new countries to complete our life
in this form. To the extent we are actively taking one side or the
other – we would not be able to observe impartially and therefore would be
drawing from the country of residence to feed our side’s activities. If on the
other hand we are able to seek and find our ‘internal’ reasons – as the UN has
finally started doing – we would have a stronger foundation on which to build
our lives in our new countries and/or leave behind a common platform through
which we would continue to bless the younger generations to the extent they
value our life.
It is obvious
from the above account that French Tamils have not reconciled with French
Sinhalese. Sinhalese fears of Tamil of Sri Lanka receiving support from Tamil
Nadu are well founded. I believe that support happens through :
(1) objectively measurable help such as visible
development assistance;
(2) human to human with Tamils of Sri Lanka forming
partnerships with Indian Tamils in Tamil Nadu. To my mind, if Tamils have
formed the IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) – that tragedy would have been
prevented.
(3) Intuitively through common belief.
It’s the
tertiary one that is most powerful and cannot be defeated by any
amount of money or visible human partnerships. These common beliefs
have been developed over centuries. Similarly Christians of Sri Lanka have
developed these common beliefs with the West. To my mind this was the core
purpose of ‘White Australia’ policy. The way it was practiced became
obsolete and therefore counterproductive.
As per Hindu
calendar it is now Kanthasashti season – 6 days of fasting to invoke the
blessings of Lord Kantha/Muruga – the Presiding Deity of Tamils. The original
legend is recorded to have taken place at Thiruchenthoor in Tamil Nadu. Hindus
all over the world who believe in the power of this period would connect to
each other through those currently observing this fast and also all
those who invested in this religious process from the beginning of this ritual.
The outer forms through which we come together is necessary for those who are
not able to believe naturally – with a still mind. Those who already have
reached the goal of common belief – would naturally empower others who are
following in their footsteps. Some of them may not even be Hindus.
Once we attain that goal of Belief – everyone who has faith in us
through any relationship or commonness would be blessed. When it comes to
fighting – Hindus of Sri Lanka do seem to have an advantage over Buddhists due
to belief through Kanthan / Murugan form of God. In Hinduism , as per
my study, most common forms of diversity are provided
for in the forms of Divine personifications. Even Gay marriages have been
provided for. But we must be genuine and not take a particular path for the
sake of quick benefits. We need to be true to the path we take – whatever the
difficulties on the way.
Devolution is
also provided for in the form of Murugan who was apparently defeated
by His elder brother Ganesh. The seat of this legend is Palani in Tamil
Nadu. Lord Muruga who chose the ‘global path’ as opposed to His
Elder Brother Lord Ganesh who chose the ‘traditional path’ – renounced His
inherited wealth to set up His own kingdom at the Hill of Palani. When
all Tamils of Sri Lanka are ready to renounce inherited wealth a Unitary
structure – and are living off their own current earnings – they are
already leading Devolved life. If they are still attached to inherited wealth –
for example through their positions in Sri Lankan public service – then they
are not deserving of devolution.
Professor Schalk
states ‘Realising that the violence by the Governments of Lanka is
structural and genocidal being practised during decades, it is not possible to
classify the present violence as an occasional aberration or as being related
to some nuts only.
The
ambassador’s presentation ended with the following characterisation of the
Lankan state’s policy: It strives for “autonomy within a unitary structure”. A
social scientist would not have uttered such a sentence. A unitary structure
(=centralised structure) excludes autonomy. But the ambassador’s point is to
show that he has listened to Tamil demands for autonomy. It was a
political-populist statement.
The
seminar had no scientific qualifications, but it left a tragic insight that the
Government represented by Dayan Jayatilleke has not learned any lesson from the
past.’
To my mind, Dr.
Dayan Jayatilleke – like most Ambassadors of Sri Lanka is still influenced by
his side – the government. This is fine – provided he limits himself to
administering those on his side only. Beyond that he needs to take a
global approach when he is outside Sri Lanka. If he had himself realized
freedom through the Unitary structure – and therefore believes in that – he
ought to be promoting English with his government. To govern through
a Unitary structure in Sri Lanka, we need a strong common
culture through which we develop and strengthen common beliefs that have
been carried forward through many generations. The only such common structure known
to me in Sri Lanka is our Common Law system based on Roman Dutch Law
and the English Law. The practice of these laws have been seriously diluted
since the British left in 1948. Those who continue to believe in those laws
and/or through those laws also in their professions and regular practice in
everyday life – continue to feel connected through that Unitary structure –
albeit mentally. Those who seek majority opinion/votes – from areas that have
not invested voluntarily in this common structure – would lose connection with
these believers and therefore would resort to giving their own
leadership form to their ‘local beliefs’. Hence Sinhala Only by Mr. SWRD
Banaranayake followed JVP on Sinhalese side and Tamil Only by Mr.
Chelvanayagam followed by the LTTE. Both political leaders were groomed by the
British and hence their ancestry included English culture. This was forgotten
towards quick political wins through majority votes. But those who have despite
such changes in structures – continued to carry forward those common beliefs –
benefit even today through a unitary global power – the Universal Power of
Truth.
When Sinhala
Only was introduced by the Sinhalese Government – it was Devolving itself from
all these investors through the common structure. This may be what Dr. Dayan
Jayatilleke was referring to. It is more a mental structure. The apparent one
in Colombo is in reality a Devolved structure .
A Unitary
structure for Sri Lanka needs to by policy – not by popular vote - include
affirmative action in relation to minorities. This was the 50:50 that Mr.
G.G.Ponnmbalam advocated. As per the above article the grandson of
Mr. G.G. Ponnambalam seems to be going for the popular chant of devolution ‘Mr.
Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam came out with similar views, explaining how the talk
of ‘devolution of power’ under unitary structure goes against all realities in
the island.’
To me the 50:50
was the Unitary structure alternative advocated by Mr. Gajendrakumar
Ponnambalam’s grandfather. But then politicians live close to reality and hence
– today’s reality that matches JVP in Government is LTTE in that Government.
That would uphold the dignity of Tamils who expressed their need for self governance through
every combatant who believed in the cause of self governance. Self Governance
is a Universal Power. As one of our Associates working closely with the
Northern Administration in Sri Lanka lamented this week - Public Administration
in Jaffna has deteriorated drastically since the times we grew up.
Hence any government in that area – to be effective, needs the
support of common political belief to influence reliable outcomes that would
satisfy the needs of that area in common. If we converted current reality in
Northern Sri Lanka – into a structure – it would not be high enough to measure
evenly against a Colombo structure. We therefore need to strengthen our
internal Administration in areas where we are weak in common belief.
To my mind, the
way to reconcile between the two systems would be the way we reconcile between
grandparent and grandchild. Those who truly seek unitary structure tend to
invest in western systems and they are usually of Colombo culture. This needs
to represent all minorities through affirmative action. Power in regards to
this Central group needs to be in areas/issues where Administration is
stronger than Politics. In areas / issues that are governed more by popular
vote – devolution needs to take place for there to be fair and just sharing of
common wealth. To state that devolution is the only way – sounds as if total
devolution is being recommended. Administration promotes vertical growth and
Politics – like business promotes lateral growth. Administration of Political issues
needs to be become user pays facility.
From the point
of view of Tamils – one needs to ask whether Tamils would be able to maintain
an Administration of Global standards after autonomy? As I explained
in today’s Human Values lesson – to our group in Northern Sri Lanka – the Demon
Sooran took different forms to continue to enjoy power at the
physical level. If therefore we seek to ‘show’ self governance more than we
believe in self governance – we are feeding the Soorans in our community. They
in turn will invoke the Sinhala Soorans and the war would surface again and
again. It is time for Tamil Politicians also to live as part of the
folks at the lowest levels of our community who became their army largely due
to economic reasons. This is not different to other official armies. But the
few who believe/d in and sacrifice/d for self governance would naturally
combine with these juniors and the consolidated form of the two is the
path for the current generation towards a healthier next generation/s.
Towards this the believers ought to be already sharing with the communities
that these juniors come from. Without this, both systems are irrelevant to
those who seek self governance. Ambassadors, like Governors need to
share their Belief. Everyone who shares belief on behalf of her/his nation is
an Ambassador representing her/his country at International level.
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