PTA: Instrument of Racism?

by Gaja Lakshmi Paramasivam

(September 07, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) In his article ‘Should the Government revoke PTA as demanded by LTTE proxy TNA?’ (Sri Lanka Guardian 06 September), Mr. Malin Abeytunge says, ‘Sri Lanka is not a fantasy island the TNA seems to think. We have a strong president elected twice with an absolute majority in the Parliament where no one can dictate terms to the Government and for that matter definitely not TNA who represents only a small percentage of the Tamil population in the North and East.’

We need to have some ground rules when speaking about others in public forums. Mr. Abeytunge for example speaks for the TNA, in breach of the fundamentals of the Doctrine of Separation of Powers. One would naturally represent a group when one feels that s/he belongs in that group. Then one has the natural right to represent that group. Others have to express on the basis of outcomes published by the group / leader of the group. All other expressions are not valid. If Mr. Abeytunge’s above expression about TNA is accepted – then one who so accepts concludes that Mr. Abeytunge is part of TNA and therefore pro LTTE!

" This confusion between likes and dislikes on the one hand and rights and wrongs on the other is a big reason why Sri Lankans are still fighting. The encampment of Tamil civilians in 2009 and the bombings of Tamil civilian areas throughout the war – is strong evidence of Racial Discrimination as defined on the basis of the Sharpeville massacre."

Mr. Abeytunge’s claim that no one could dictate terms to the strong president, because he was elected by ‘an absolute majority’ indicates lack of appreciation of the system of majority. Majority helps us work as per likes and dislikes of the group we represent. Voting system is necessary where majority are not educated enough to consciously use discriminative thinking and allocate rights and wrongs. An elected member with a big majority is a popular member. It’s our system of Administration that would inform/educate us whether the member has acted to bring credit for the whole group. The group may like the elected member but wider groups (in this instance the International Community) would look for more ‘rights’ than ‘wrongs’ to accept the Group through the elected member. Racial Issue is an International issue and ‘rights and wrongs’ are measured through UN’s principles expressed through the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. If the President of Sri Lanka has acted in breach of the principles and values on which the above Convention is based, the UN has the responsibility to mark the Government of the Country and therefore its voters ‘WRONG’.

This confusion between likes and dislikes on the one hand and rights and wrongs on the other is a big reason why Sri Lankans are still fighting. The encampment of Tamil civilians in 2009 and the bombings of Tamil civilian areas throughout the war – is strong evidence of Racial Discrimination as defined on the basis of the Sharpeville massacre. Majority Westerners who actually practice anti racism and other related policies of the United Nations, would intuitively mark the Sri Lankan Government ‘wrong’. Mr. Abeytunge is proof that to most Sinhalese voters – all Tamils are Terrorists. Hence the urge to not repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act 1978. Unless the reason is given as per rights and wrongs using common measures, one has the duty to conclude that it is NOT based on discriminative thinking of the issue itself. Hence PTA is being seen by Tamil leaders as an Instrument of Racism.

Mr. Abeytunge says ‘PTA is applicable not only to North and East or Tamils, it applies to whole of Sri Lanka irrespective of ethnicity.’

That is the ‘stated’ / ‘apparent’ cause. But the ‘effects’ are more anxiety for Tamils as a Community than to any other race. One who states that TNA is pro LTTE, without showing any evidence – does not have the authority to claim that the PTA is introduced on a level playing field. Only one who is clean of racial bias has such authority.

As per Diaspora Tamils – their efforts through the ‘Killing Fields’ documentary has resulted in the lifting of ‘ Emergency rule’. To those who claimed that they ‘defeated’ the Tigers – this would seem like a defeat. The two sides are now even to that extent. An insider would ‘remove’ the problem; not defeat/attack to kill the forms that represent the problem. Lessons have been Learnt – as indicated in action.

PTA if used excessively on Tamils, would be heavy baggage for the Sri Lankan Government in merging with Democratic Nations including Australia where Mr. Abeytunge is writing from. We need to protect Australia from such deterioration.