Comments on: ISSUES FOR TAMIL NATIONALISM: REVISITING PUBLIUS

By: groundviews » POWER-SHARING: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

groundviews » POWER-SHARING: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:32:10 +0000

[...] or analytical perspectives, many of these principled objections to secessionist claims have been articulately defended by Professor Michael Roberts elsewhere in these pages recently. [...]

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:48:42 +0000

Bala, I agree totally with you on that matter. When Tamil Eelam is formed Sinhalese should be treated with equality, freedom, justice, and all other benefits which any Tamil would enjoy. This is tamil culture and will surely be a part of our constitution giving that right to any person, regardless of his colour, cast, race, religion or ethnic origin.

We who have sufferred do know as to how one feels and suffers when such rights and freedoms are denied.

Discrimination, oppression or subjugation in any form should be made severely punishable under Law, under a fair judicial system.

By: Bala

Bala — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:12:37 +0000

Justin when Tamil Elam is born Tamils should embrace Sinhalese as neighbors and treat them with respect for the common good of both nations therefore future generations can live well economically and socially.

By: Justin

Justin — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:26:01 +0000

Michael Roberts should write articles as to how Sri Lanka should respond peacefully when a “Kosovo” is formed soon in the North East of the island.

When Tamil Eelam is formed, Sri Lanka will become the “dust bin” of the world.
Then Sri Lankans would be looked down and shunned away for the inhuman treatment of Tamils, barabaric murders and displacemnets. Sinhalese would be branded as barbarians who did not know to live with others, giving dignity to fellow human beings.

Sri lankans will then cover their faces in shame. They will not be able to fight. Many countries will dislodge from Sri Lanka.

By: x

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:26:07 +0000

There was some dicussion about this on this blog:

http://mahasen.blogspot.com/2007/05/in-what-way-were-you-discriminated.html

By: Exiled

Exiled — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:36:02 +0000

thank you X. at last a Tamil talking realistically.

By: x

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:35:49 +0000

a. No I would not return to an Eelam but remain in rump Lanka.
b.Citizenship will be as Rump Lanka or SL or current status quo.

If I may elaborate as to why I have answered thus:

The LTTE are a nasty dictatorial lot and share much in common with the nasty regime of the South. Unread, untravelled, narrow minded, ignorant, bigoted and driven by power.

In the South, there some institutions, although greatly weakened that can do a little to keep the regime in line. The international community can also exert some pressure on the government. No such checks and balances are likely if the LTTE gains power, so we would be better off in the South and if things worsen there, abroad rather than in a putative Eelam.

Democracy is a delicate flower that takes centuries to nourish. Transplanted roughly it will wither and die-witness the case of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Neither were intended for independant statehood which came about in a hastily and without the deep-rooted institutions - which remained in the rump that became India.

The dismantling of institutions in Sri Lanka - in the 1972 and 1977 constitutions and the suspension of large parts of whatever remains by way of the emergency bodes ill for the long term future of the nation.

To the Tamils my message would be that one must be careful of what one wishes for, for one day they may become a reality.

By: Puzzled

Puzzled — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:00:28 +0000

Assuming a state of perpetual warfare if two states are created in the island is a piece of creative fear-mongering that reduces the force of your argument. Yes, Tamils have few options. The govt appears to have willed itself into believing it has only one option.

Drawing on Indian and Pakistani tensions to understand Sri Lanka is misguided. Muslims may have invaded India within recorded history but as far as I understand Tamils and Sinhalese have been walking the island since Adam left his imprint on the top of a mountain.

Sri Lanka can learn from India by asking for its help in mediating talks that can aim to create autonomy for the Tamils. Other regional powers and for that matter non-regional powers….I would suggest the United Nations Security Council itself… should be invited to consider an island intervention….

and if that cannot happen (and I don’t see why it should not), then let us try for the moment to talk to each other without fanning fears of a war that will continue through the generations.