by Thomas Johnpulle (September 11, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) It has been ninety (90) years since Tamil racial demands were first made and started the continuous cycle of racial demands. It all started in 1918 with the racial representation demand made by the Jaffna Association. Racial representation was about electing/selecting decision makers/legislators based on race. Accordingly “Tamil speaking” decision makers/legislators should have 50% of the total number of decision makers/legislators. This demand was upheld by many subsequent Tamil political groups with minor changes until it was frustrated when the British rejected this demand with contempt and introduced a territory-based representation system. It should be noted that territory-based representation system is found right throughout the democratic world while no democratic system accommodates a national race-based representation system.
Although the race-based representation demand died a violent death in 1931 with bloodshed, race-based demands never died. All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) is a product of race-based political bargaining. It is undeniable that this is the first instance of a race-centred political party winning seats in the local legislature. In wide contrast most people rejected race-centred politics and rallied round the United National Party, independents and communist parties. Although ACTC joined the government, battle lines were drawn between Tamil race-centred political parties and mainstream political parties.
This lucrative niche was exploited by more and more aggressive race-centred political parties heavily intent on racial demands. The journey from ACTC to TNA is the evolution of these racial-demands.
It is crystal clear that Tamil racial demands originated almost 39 years before the Sinhala Only Act of 1956. First bloodshed making racial demands occurred not in 1956, but in 1931 which was 25 years earlier. However, without a doubt short-sighted decision making in 1956 rubbed salt into wounds 39 years old. Subsequent actions were even worse. War was justified in 1977 to forcibly grab a separate state for Tamils and this was put to practice in subsequent years. TULF that screamed on political platforms about the ‘Promised Land’ of Tamils and about ‘the boys’ who were working tirelessly towards it went extinct soon thereafter. TULF uncles were gunned down by ‘the boys’. Today ‘the boys’ have created their own political party, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). They have left behind the TULF leader!
All these Tamil race-centred political parties wilfully neglected development of the North-East. They demanded racial empowerment to precede regional development. They rejected all forms of regional development without racial empowerment. Thanks to them development took a back seat in the North-East creating fertile breeding grounds for the LTTE to capitalise. No surprise even today the TNA is least concerned with developing the North-East!
Similarly there are a few Sinhala and Muslim hardliners who are against ethnic integration which is the only solution to the ethnic problem. Fortunately people have rejected them repeatedly.
The need for a political solution to unify this country is felt badly today. Such a solution should not be dirtied by racial demands. A word of caution is necessary in this regard. If the political solution is going to fulfil Tamil aspirations only, there is no earthly reason why the Sinhalese, Muslims, etc. should support such a solution. It should, therefore, be a solution that fulfils the aspirations of the whole nation, not individual races.
Sadly, race-based demands have found their way into political solutions as well! This is like Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) where the virus attacks the immune system itself and thereafter healing the body becomes impossible. The first thing APRC or any other body trying to find a political solution should do is to shed racial demands and aspirations. As long as racial demands exist, there will never be room for a political solution. A political solution as its name goes must be found through the political (democratic) process. A ‘solution’ is not a political solution if it was introduced through deception, force, under emergency laws, while people are locked inside their homes by imposing curfews or other similar undemocratic means.
The inability to look at problems without racial aspirations is the biggest impasse and impediment in finding a political solution. Hilariously still some people cannot shed racial demands even at this late hour. They justify the LTTE on various grounds but cannot apprehend that LTTE is unable to win Tamil aspirations. Democracy failed them to win it, Satyagrahas failed them, boycotts failed them, even ethnic cleansing failed them and now the armed struggle is also failing them. Isn’t it time to shed racial demands and accede to the overwhelming forces?
Most Tamils in Sri Lanka have given up Tamil racial aspirations and they have integrated into the Sri Lankan society very well just like peoples of other races. Thankfully the Sinhalese and most Muslims do not make racial demands. This is the basis on which a viable political solution should be found.
Ending racial aspirations by available and effective means which definitely includes ethnic integration is the only solution. Every decision maker should learn to look at problems as they are without racial considerations. Those who waited decades for a solution that appeases racial demands instead of ethnic integration should be prepared to wait forever!
( The writer can be reached at trjohnpulle@yahoo.co.uk) - Sri Lanka Guardian
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