Let’s make National Integration our priority

(February 10, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) "This is the country of our birth. We have been born in this country. Our people have lived in this country for centuries. We will die in this country. Our descendants will be born in this country. And when the time comes it will be our duty – and, we hope, our privilege – to fight for this country, to preserve the integrity of this country."

These were the stirring words of a true patriot, not one of those self-styled patriotic nationalists who claim that they alone are the saviours of our country. These were the words spoken over forty years ago by Senator M. Tiruchelvam, then a leader of the Federal Party. We were reminded of these words by Bradman Weerakoon, who was one of the speakers at the release last week at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute of a collection of speeches by Tiruchelvam.

This collection of speeches and tributes is titled ‘Senator Tiruchlevam’s Legacy’ and has been compiled by his Personal Secretary Attorney-at-Law Ram Balasubramaniyam. Rohan Edrisinha, another speaker at the release, quoted an extract from another of Tiruchelvam’s speeches:

"For a minority people there are three solutions available in a country. The first is assimilation. That is, giving up being a Tamil…. We do not want that course. We are not prepared to be assimilated. The second course is more abhorrent, and that is the course of separation, to go our different ways, to fight it out and reach a different status. We do not want it. Then, the third course is national integration That can arise only by a recognition of the fact that we exist as a people who have lived in this country for 2,500 years; that we exist as a people who have a language of our own, as a people with a culture of our own, a religion of our own, with traditions of our own and a way of life of our own. Everyone of these attributes, every one of these qualities is available to our common motherland in the service of our people. We will never allow ourselves to be used oppressively against our own citizens. That I wish to assert on behalf of my party."

Both quotes are eloquent calls for national integration. The Federal Party politicians like Tiruchelvam and his leader S. J. V. Chelvanayakam were political leaders of integrity. Five years after Tiruchelvam’s death, Ronnie de Mel paying a tribute to him on radio said: "I consider it a privilege to pay this tribute to a gentleman and a politician of the highest calibre. There is only one criterion and one alone to judge a leader. Was every simple action of his in public life in the interest of his country and his people? Mr. Tiruchelvam will surely pass this test. We need in this country, men for whom the spoils of office cannot buy, and men who possess opinions and a will. We need men who love honour and men who will not lie. Such a man was Mr Tiruchelvam."

The Tiruchelvams’ Legacy

In their time, Tiruchelvam and Chelvanayakam were abused and vilified by the self-styled saviours of our motherland. Over the last quarter of a century, the country has come to regard them as ‘moderate’ Tamil leaders who espoused federalism as a means of national integration. But, by ignoring the voices of sanity and reason and pandering to the latter day successors of those self-proclaimed ‘patriotic nationalists’ we are now fighting separatism which Tiruchelvam considered abhorrent. He and his son Neelan (cruelly assassinated by the Tamil soul brothers of the Sinhala ‘patriotic nationalists’) have left behind for us a lasting legacy of integrity and civilised dialogue in the political and social life of our country.

Neelan Tiruchelvam founded several organisations which have made a significant contribution to the intellectual, political, social, legal and ethical life of our country. These organisations together with the Neelan Tiruchelvam Trust, founded after his death, keep alive his ideals each year by celebrating both his birth and death anniversaries in an appropriate manner. Last week, on Neelan’s birth anniversary, they presented a fine production by Ratan Thiyam’s Chorus Repertory Theatre from Imphal, the capital city of the hill state of Manipur in India. It was a mythical exploration of the story of human evolution but very relevant to our present times. With the increase in human population, the pressures on food and other resources grow. Humans fight each other for the scarce resources. Wars, diseases and scarcities lead to political upheavals. Differences in culture and traditions compound the conflicts. The confused humans look back in time and appeal to their forbears, seven wise men, and seven nymphs to liberate them from their bondage to war and misery. This beautifully choreographed production was the perfect tribute to Neelan and, indeed to his father as well.

Glorifying Death

The words of Neelan quoted by the Neelan Tiruchelvam Trust are apposite for times: "We cannot glorify death whether in the battlefield or otherwise. We must celebrate life and we are fiercely committed to protecting and securing the sanctity of life which is the most fundamental value without which all other rights and freedoms become meaningless." Today, more than ever, we need leaders who will not glorify death or any kind of violence. As Ronnie de Mel said, we need men who love honour and men who will not lie. Today, we are daily told by spokespersons of both sides of the number of the ‘others’ killed. And the ‘others’ are always cadres or soldiers of the ‘enemy’ – no civilians are killed, though those on the ground know the reality.

In recent days, we have seen both in the electronic and print media heart-rending pictures of scores of children killed and the wailing of mothers. But let us not forget that the brutality is not only that of the LTTE. Last week, twelve school children lost their lives in a senseless claymore mine attack near the Madhu Church. Last month, another dozen children were similarly killed near Kilinochchi. Tamil websites carried pictures similar to those we have seen in recent days. People in the North and East know the truth of the UN accusation that children continue to be forcibly conscripted by the LTTE and the TMVP, with the security forces turning a blind eye to the actions of the latter. Indeed, it is a disgrace that the UPFA has entered into an official alliance with the TMVP in the East. All parties in the UPFA have to take responsibility for this. There is no question of taking cover saying that the TMVP is a legitimate recognised political party. The TMVP not only continues to openly carry arms but they stand accused, like the LTTE, of continuing to carry out abductions, killings and conscription of children. Is their political arm any different from their terrorist arm?

The Northern Ireland Experience

Northern Ireland was beset by sectarian violence for decades. Talks, both open and in private, among all stakeholders brought about what was known as the Good Friday Agreement setting up a power-sharing assembly. John Hume was one of the leaders involved in the Agreement and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998 for his efforts. In his acceptance speech, he said that too many lives had already been lost in Ireland in the pursuit of political goals. Bloodshed for political change, he said, prevented the only change that truly mattered – in the human heart. He envisaged for the people of Ireland a future built on respect for diversity and for political differences; there was to be no diminishing of self-respect for any group and there was to be respect for the views and rights of others as equal to one’s own. Hume said he wanted to see the wounds of violence healed, to see an Ireland of partnership where war was waged on want and poverty, where the marginalised and dispossessed were looked after.

The Northern Ireland’s experience is very valid for us. Bloodshed cannot bring about real change. It must come about by dialogue that is inclusive, involving all stakeholders and all groups. The final breakthrough in Northern Ireland came about as a result of direct talks between Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA, and the DUP, led by the militant Protestant. Is it too much to ask our leaders to learn from the experiences of Northern Ireland and other countries in conflict resolution? No two countries are exact parallels but the unique experience of each country provides lessons for others. As John Hume said, they provide an example of living for ideals rather than fighting for them.