‘Do the Tamils living in the Northern and Eastern parts of the country want a separate state? The answer is yes. But would they want to be ruled by Prabhakaran and his mafia. The answer is no. If the separate state of Tamil Eelam is established by the LTTE the Tamils have to succumb to the rule of Prabhakaran whether they like it or not. For this reason they may not vote for a separate state.’
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by Helasingha Bandara
(July 22, Toronto, Sri Lanka Guardian) Some want to establish a separate Tamil county somewhere in the world. For obvious reasons many believe that the ideal place to create a Tamil country is the Tamil region in India, primarily for the simple fact that Tamilnadu means Tamil country and all Tamils originate from there. The other favourable reasons are that the vast majority speak Tamil and predominantly Tamil culture and traditions are practised there. Instead, some people have chosen to establish a Tamil country within the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. Only in the light of who want or do not want separatism, an analysis can be made to judge whether such a choice is good or bad, fair or unfair and real or unreal.
Nothing is more certain than that the Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora wants to create a separate Tamil country within Sri Lanka more than anyone else. It is noted that they derive some psychological satisfaction out of destruction caused upon the Sinhalese by the LTTE. Sinhalese , the majority like any other majority rules the country and Tamil has been one of the minority ethnic communities. When in the minority there is natural psychological aspiration to become or belonging to the majority community. Rivalry, suspicions, bickering, accusations and so on become commonplace. This is a phenomenon that is apparent all over the world where there are substantial minorities. Simply this Diaspora runs the LTTE war in Sri Lanka. Without their money and expertise LTTE’s propaganda and military machines cannot survive. Would they ever go back to live in the Tamil Eelam? If the overwhelming answer to that question is no, is that fair on their part to fund a war that create misery to both Sinhalese and Tamils living in Sri Lanka just for a psychological need?
Over 100 million Tamils living within and outside India would vote for the creation of a Tamil country to claim that they have a country of their own of which the official and predominant language is Tamil. The creation of a Tamil country within the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka would not satisfy such a psychological need of 100 million Tamils because it cannot represent a country of any worth in both geographical and population terms in the eyes of the international community. 100 million would not have originated from a few square kilometres. Tamilnadu is at least 5 times larger than entire Sri Lanka. The entire Tamil region of India is larger still and more suitable and easily recognised if the so called Tamil country is established in India.
Do the Tamils living in the Northern and Eastern parts of the country want a separate state? The answer is yes. But would they want to be ruled by Prabhakaran and his mafia. The answer is no. If the separate state of Tamil Eelam is established by the LTTE the Tamils have to succumb to the rule of Prabhakaran whether they like it or not. For this reason they may not vote for a separate state.
Tamils living in other parts of Sri Lanka would vote for a separate state for the very same reason that the Tamil Diaspora would vote. If ask whether they would move into the Tamil country once it is established the answer would be no. It is then unfair for them to vote for such a separation while wanting to stay in other parts of the country enjoying all benefits.
Ask Bruce Fain whether he wants a separate country within Sri Lanka he would say no but yes while he is employed by the Tamils overseas. He would even say “While I am employed I would challenge the GOSL to hold a referendum only among the Tamils in Sri Lanka to decide whether they want a separate Tamil country although I know this would open up a whole can of worms. I am sure In America if a referendum is held to ask the Chinese in China Town, the Hispanics, and of course the original Indians whether they want separate states for them they would all say yes. This goes for all minorities every where in the world. But I am not paid to agitate for all minorities but the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka”.
The Sinhalese would say an adamant no to such separation. The Sinhalese, a substantial population live only in this island. They have nowhere else to go. Sinhalese is only spoken in this Island and no where else. Therefore the Sinhalese have no relatives Like Viko or Karunanidhi to campaign for them. For them the country they inhabit is a matter of life and death. That’s why they fought tooth and nail against the invading South Indian Tamils throughout history. That is why they stood against the superior European powers for nearly 400 years. In this context the creation of a separate Tamil country within Sri Lanka becomes unreal. In this light Tamils in Sri Lanka have no option other than to cohabit with the Singhalese while agitating for equal rights but not for a separate Tamil country.
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