India and SL has one of the better relationships in the sub-continent. Now more so than ever. A lot of writers here are of the opinion that India is white and everyone else is black. If you think SL can manipulate India or Tamil Nadu you need to open your eyes and and stop sounding off racist remarks. The media will sensationalize news items to attract more viewership...looks like a some have fallen into the trap. Today nothing more will benefit the region than having stable countries with good economic growth.
SL has been fighting a separatist war for a quarter century. It is doing what it can to minimize the threat and looking abroad for help. It has by no means being perfect in this battle and with high corruption and incompetency usually has damaged its cause. However, contrary to some readers views, outside of the war theatre Tamils and Singhalese live together with minimal friction.... no more than any other groups living side by side that have different languages and religions. Given a war atmosphere it is inevitable that atrocities happen...there is no deep rooted, state sponsored, hatred. India can help by politically pressuring all parties and assiting and taking an active role in dialouge since it has the clout even if it is reluctant to selling military hardware. However, it should be clear that they do not support any forms of separatist goals.
RE:Relations
by Rani on Jun 02, 2007 10:26 PM Permalink
i disagree with you that there is no state sponsered discrimination. When Sinhalease had to move out of their villages due to war, they were provided relief material immediately by presidential orders. Tamils dont receive that even though they are in government territory. In South Africa, blacks and whites also lived in harmony even though the blacks were grossly discriminated. Does that mean, they shouldn't fight against discrimination.
What you need to understand is that there is state sponsered discrimination. for example, the employment of Sinhalease by the state is over 90% in colombo when colombo is 40% tamils.
RE:Relations
by lil tenne on Jun 04, 2007 06:58 AM Permalink
Rani- What you need to understand is that the LTTE does not fight for any of these reasons. You need to ask yourself what are the true motives of the LTTE who have killed diplomatic moderate thamils who wanted to work out their grievances without weapons. It is a dangerous thing when you say " Does that mean, they shouldn't fight against discrimination.". This implies you do not live in Srilanka and hence do not suffer.
There is discrimination within the SL government. And if you interpreted my statement as against this I am sorry. What I wanted to convey is that the state does not as a whole sponser violence or hatred against Thamils. I do not want to whitewash the government, there are many areas where it lacks good governance. From instituting policies to accomodate Tamil language in government institutions to investigating abductions to removing nepotism.
Now to counter your arguments- 1) I disagree with the 90% employment. If you have evidence please provide. Almost 30% of thamils in colombo are new...maybe from the north-east or elsewhere. Why are the muslims in colombo doing very well? The war has a lot to do with peoples's perception and it perpetuates fear. 2) There is only one incident I can remember of when there was presidential orders to provide relief.. that also under the current president. Understand that this is only a statement that was reported, other times the presidents decrees go unreported...presidents say a lot...almost always for their main support
RE:RE:Relations
by lil tenne on Jun 04, 2007 07:01 AM Permalink
Cont...almost always for their main support group. Mostly the NGOs provide these facilities and the governement is incapable of providing relief. You want to latch onto anything dont you. Understand that if you want to go by specific events, there are arguments on both sides. 3) If you are comparing this conflict to the apartheid episode in South Africa, you are clueless. The LTTE wants their separate state and nothing else...why was the Oslo Communiqué scuttled by the LTTE which was based on a power sharing scheme??
