Who are the Tamil asylum seekers in the West?

Answer to this question is obviously known to many among Sri Lankans.  The truth behind the individuals who seek the asylum and the circumstances in which this claims being sought have mostly been overlooked due to the intensity of the propaganda of the LTTE supports and Tamil racists world over.  The primary reason given to the authorities in the Western countries who seek the asylum is that they seek the asylum to escape the 'persecution by the Sinhalese and the Sinhalese government'.  Anyone living in Sri Lanka would understand whether there is any truth behind this claim. Given the sheer fraudulent manner in which whole this operation goes on it is not exaggeration to say that this is one of the biggest rackets being in operation involving Sri Lanka.

A fairly large number of so called asylum seekers are those who lived among the Sinhalese, worked with them and having enjoyed most of the benefits provided by the Sri Lankan government. This is especially in the case of the free education in the school level and the University level. Most of the so called asylum seekers have got their university education from the universities outside the North and East studying together with Sinhalese with no discrimination whatsoever meted out to them. Closely observing the faces of the most of participants of the demonstrations against Sri Lanka holding the LTTE flags also reveal this truth.

The mere questioning of law enforcement authorities or taken into custody on suspicions during years of war or any other petty reason are taken as the Trojan horse for this racket. Anyone who is closely following this racket would realize that a faire number of those worked in the INGOs and NGOs have also found refuge in the West. Notable number of them are the heads of the local NGOs set up to 'protect the rights of the women or the poor'.  One would realize the real scenario If probed a little deeper the real background behind those individuals.  All of them have looted millions of money that came in the name of poor people.  Or either they have engaged in other anti-social activities.

A friend of mine working in an NGO was recently asked by a foreigner when she was on a foreign tour why the Tamils in Sri Lanka are being burnt to death by the Sinhalese even after the war is over.  On inquiry about the source related to the news she was told that that it was one of the reasons given by the asylum seekers to the authorities of his country. This suffice to understand the sheer intensity of the propaganda machine of the LTTE supporters.

So it is clear that the asylum seeking of Tamils is just a game of economic refugees who have taken an excellent opportunity to tarnish the name of Sri Lanka.

Do Tamils belong to a superior race ?

Considering the superfluous and extra terrestrial status being demanded by Tamils one tends to wonder whether Tamils belong to a superior race than other communities in the country. First it was ridiculous fifty –fifty demand for parliamentary representation despite being the composition of Tamils in Sri Lanka is less than 13 %. This was followed by various demands leading to an exclusively mono ethnic separate sate in 2/3 of the country for a 13% minority who migrated or brought to the country by the colonists a few centuries ago. The latest ruse has been the demand for a Tamil version of Sri Lanka's national anthem. Canada is the one and only exception in the world where National Anthem is not sung in one language.  Other larger democracies in the world with so many multiple communities sing their National Anthems only in one language.     

Following is some quotes from an article appeared in the Island paper (15.Dec.2010) by Mr. Mano Ratwatte from the USA in response to the latest rant made by old and sick Karunanidi of Tamil Nadu.   For easy reference I have added the name of the country in front of related examples given by the writer.

India –"First of all, he should realize the Indian National Anthem is written and sung in Sankritized Bengali and includes words written by the greatest Bengali Laureate, Tagore. It is not sung in Telugu, Malaylam, Tamil(60 million and approx 6% of Indians), Kannada or other Dravidian Indian regional languages and nor is it sung in Marati, Gujarati, Ori, or any other regional state language"

USA –"The National Anthem of the USA is in English. It has approximately 15.8% persons of Hispanic or Latino origin. Sri Lanka has approximately 13% Tamil speaking Sri Lankan Tamils. The US National Anthem is sung only and only in English officially.

Every American is expected to sing it in the official language of the nation: English, not even native Americans be they Navajo, Cherokee, Sioux, Pawnee or any other original indigenous population whose lands were conquered are allowed to sing it in any language other than English".

“The East Asian race has kicked the white race’s ass while the South Asian’s have traditionally licked the white race’s ass”

How true!I saw the below quoted comment posted in response to an article written comparing military strengths of China and India. The author of the comment explains why the US is interested in strengthening India's military. The comment tells it in nutshell: the mentality of the most of the South Asian countries who were the former colonies of the West. They have for long been the 'yes' men to the West. This is very much true as far as Sri Lanka is concerned.

This mentality, especially among 'Kalu Suddas' in Sri Lanka, has cost us dearly. Until president Rajapaksha came into power our political elite licked the asses of the West and in turn what we got was 30 years of war which was being fuelled by them with their hypocritical actions. The West's hypocrisy has been well exemplified on numerous occasions, the most recent instance being the treatment meted out to the SL's president when he made a visit to the UK. The president was humiliated as he got balls not to lick the West's asses.

Following is the said comment.       

"The reason why the western world, in particular the neo-conservative factions are hyping up and siding with India while trying to put China down is because of a historical fear the white (caucasian) race has of the yellow (oriental) race. Throughout history, from the Huns who humiliated the mighty Romans, to the Mongols under Ghengis Khan and his grandsons to the Japanese at Pearl Harbour to the Vietnamese in the Vietnam war, the East Asian race has kicked the white race's ass while the South Asian's have traditionally licked the white race's ass. Therefore the western fear of China's rise as a superpower that could challenge the western world's global dominance.

The west courts India not because India has any true superpower potential but because Indians are sycophants and willing lackeys to the white race, is conviniently located right next door to China and more that willing to take orders from the whites."

It is again the lackeys of the Sudda's in Sri Lanka who shout from the roof tops against percent Sri Lankan government's foreign policy in tilting towards true friends like China rather than licking the asses of the White.

More on Tamilinzed Sinhala names in Jaffna……

As a further elaboration to my previous post, the current post too deals with place names in Jaffna which originally had Sinhala names but has been Tamilinized  later. These original Sinhala names were in use as late as Dutch period where they appear by the same names in the maps used by the Dutch colonial government.    

Original Sinhala names                                          Tamilinized names  

Oorana                                                                   Urani

Palyala                                                                    Palali

Kottegampala                                                          Koddagapulam

Karadiva                                                                 Karativ

Katuwana                                                                Kadduwan

Godigama                                                               Kodikamam

Kapudoova                                                              Kapputhoo

Vaslawatta                                                              Vatharavathai

Varan Yattala                                                           Varani  Iyattalai

Mirivila                                                                   Mirveli

Javakachcheriya                                                      Chavakachcheri

Kokilana                                                                 Kuppilan

Navandara                                                               Navanturai

Sorowila                                                                 Suruvil

Udupaella                                                                Oddupeli

Maavanpoluwa                                                         Maravanpulavu

Avusala                                                                   Usan

Kudameeya                                                             Kudamian

Tambagama                                                            Tampakamam

Buthpura                                                                 Buttur

Hirivila                                                                   Siruvilan

Madurusala                                                              Munasal

Araella                                                                   Arayali

Punnalakaduwa                                                        Punnalaikkaduwan

Itththavila                                                               Ittavil

Addaravaella                                                            Arukuveli  

Punranna                                                                Poonaryn

Mavankulissa                                                           Maravankulissa

Sandilipe                                                                 Sandilippai

Sankavaella                                                             Sankuveli

Thalapura                                                               Tolopuram

Athureliya                                                               Achchelu

Kumburukanniya                                                      Chempankundu

Deduwankotte                                                          Tadduwankodddai

Alapitiya                                                                 Allaipiddi

Vasavila                                                                  Vasavilan

Katuwana                                                                Kadduwan

Peduru Thuduwa                                                       Point Pedru

Kokkuvila                                                                Kokkuvil

Mandadiva                                                               Mandatiuv

Vaevunkaduva                                                          Veddukkadu

Neliya                                                                     Neliyan

Batakotte                                                               Vaddukoddai

Vaelivaetithara                                                        Valivatithurai

Karanaeba                                                               Karanaval  

Karavaedda                                                             Karaveddi

Dambakolathota                                                       Kankasanthurai

Colombathora                                                          Colombothurai

Urathota                                                                 Kayts

Source: http://www.jaffnahistory.com/

“The Sri Lanka of today is much bolder and far more confident, far less likely to be dictated to and far more attuned to her own rhythms and priorities”.

A serialized review by Dr. SinhaRaja Tammita-Delgoda on a paper by Ashok Mehta –'Sri Lanka's Ethnic Conflict: How Eelam War IV was Won' appeared in Sunday Island on 31st October, 07^th November and 14^th November 2010.

What struck me most was the following concluding paragraphs by the reviewer. It sums up what ticks inside the head of the present government. All the adversaries to the present regime who try to force things on her should first understand this reality.

"The whole episode only serves to underlines a basic reality. The solution that everybody else desires may not be desirable for Sri Lanka; it may not even be workable, and ultimately, it is Sri Lanka which will have to pay the price. This is something which India and the outside world have yet to understand. Only then, can there be a permanent resolution.

In this context, it is important to point out that the Sri Lanka of today is no longer the country that it was before the last Eelam War. As Sri Lanka has changed, so have her politics and so, has her idea of her place in the world. Despite the immense pressure which has been applied by the United Nations, the western powers and India, Sri Lanka continues to go her own way. After having defied all the odds and come through the very worst, it is unlikely that this administration will give way on anything less. To force it to do so would only exaggerate, increase tensions and shore up trouble for the future.

The Sri Lanka of today is much bolder and far more confident, far less likely to be dictated to and far more attuned to her own rhythms and priorities. It is a story which all those dealing with Sri Lanka should try to understand, for it is the reality which they will encounter."

Attempting to deprive settling the original inhabitants in Jaffna

Eelamists have again started to shout from rooftops as usual over what can best be described as an attempt to perpetuate the big lie called Tamil Homeland in Sri Lanka.  This time around it is against settling some Sinhalese families in Jaffna who lived there before they were chased away by the Eelamists in 1980s. Following are repetitions of a few facts that I highlighted in my various previous posts.     

The extent of distorting the  true history of Sri Lanka is such that perhaps the Eelimist themselves do not know the fact that the original inhabitants of Jaffna had been Sinhalese before a large scale Tamil settlement took place there when Portuguese , Dutch and English  brought them  for tobacco cultivation from South India.  

Mudaliyar C. Rasnayagam, a prominent Tamil historian claims in his book 'Ancient Jaffna' that " Jaffna was occupied by the Sinhalese earlier than by the Tamils is seen not only in the place names of Jaffna but also in the habits and customs of the people. The system of branding cattle with the communal brand by which not only the caste but also the position and family of the owner could be traced, was peculiarly Sinhalese. The very ancient way of wearing the hair in the form of a konde behind the head, was very common among the people of Jaffna till very recent times" (Ancient Jaffna, p. 384)."

Most of the place names in Jaffna that have been Tamilinised originally had Sinhalese names. Kadurugoda (kantarodai), Hunugama (Chunkamam) and Waligama( Weligamam) are just a few to name. The ruins of  Buddhist  temples that have been subjected much destruction, some of them can barely be identifiable now,  prove an existence of a flourishing Sinhalese Buddhist civilization there.

As usual Elemist have again sought the help from Eealm supportive countries in the West to prevent "this attempt by Sinhalese to create a demographic imbalance in Tamil Homeland". The present government should take every step to prevent Eelmists' sustained attempt to create a mono-ethnic enclave in the North and East for it is this very government which is credited for defeating such an effort made Eelamists by means of an armed conflict.  Otherwise, the enormous sacrifices made by our security forces, boarder villagers and general public will go in vain.  On top of all it will be a victory against the falsehood as Tamils have never been the original inhabitants of North and East rather they were recent immigrants or those who came with invaders or those who were brought by the colonists to the region from South India.

Prof: Rohan Gunaratne talks about the truth behind the ‘Political Settlement for Tamils’ and the so called human rights abuses allegedly to have been committed by the SL armed forces

As was highlighted by many a times in my posts and also as has been a quite common knowledge to many, the demand for a 'political settlement for Tamils' being shouted from the roof tops based on a bogus 'Tamil Homeland' or the mythical Tamil history in Sri Lanka is just a creation of a bunch of Jaffna Tamil Vellala elites who made use of this fantasy to achieve their political goals at the expense of misguided poor Tamil youth. 

In a recent interview to Daily Mirror Prof. Rohan Gunaratne , Head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore puts it in one of the best ways one could do it as thus:

 'This political settlement is not created by the ordinary Tamils in the NE but those highly politicized and radicalised Tamils in Colombo, doing the cocktail circuit, lobbying the embassies, or Tamil politicians'.

 He goes on to say

'But this is not a priority for the people. I think the idea of political settlement is created by a small percentage in Colombo not representative of the real needs of the Tamil people as a whole. Govt can ensure that these Tamils can live peacefully in the NE or wherever they want to live in the country, have access to education and livelihoods. Gvt. must focus of economic growth. '

With regard to human rights abuses alleged to have been committed by the SL security forces…..

"Every conflict zone in the world whether it is Afganistan, Kashmir or Iraq has produced civilian injuries and fatalities. No conflict zone can a government fight without violence. Civilians are those who most inevitably die in a conflict. You can't fight terrorism without civilian deaths. The entire strategy of the terrorist is to hide behind the civilians and attack. If you look at civilian deaths, then in Iraq 100,000 have died, in Afganistan several tens of thousands more. But in Sri Lanka the number is very modest in comparison, yet, why did the UN appoint a Committee of Inquiry. It is because there was very significant pressure on him by countries that have been lobbied by LTTE and its friends."  

The number of civilians alleged to have been killed is just an exaggeration by the LTTE and picked up by the interested parties   

Because in the final stages of the war the LTTE activated its machinery overseas and this couldn't be countered by the government through its missions overseas. These missions didn't give priority to this. This has been a traditional failure of the governments.  So LTTE gave a figure of 7,000 civilian deaths in its websites, which was picked up by the UN, media and human rights organizations. The strategy of the government should've been to issue a white paper on what happened in the No Fire Zone during this time, it can still be done today. Then the government must inform the UN and other governments commenting on SL without burying its head in the ground. Say what is right and what wrong. They must be pro active and responsive. Then the government must raise the question why these organizations are singling out Sri Lanka by reacting to LTTE propaganda. They can ask why they are concerned about civilian deaths if there is no principle of equality when dealing with more deaths in Iraq or Afghanistan and why they don't have Commissions of Inquiry on these other conflicts as well. 

I think the government is not doing this because they feel singled out. Simply singling out a country is bad. I believe the Opposition instead of carrying out its traditional role of confrontational politics should have the wisdom to tell the government that they will work with it. Defeating the LTTE was the biggest challenge Sri Lanka faced in the last three decades and when it comes to matters of foreign policy there must be a bi-partisan opposition. That is an intelligent opposition. SL must maintain a relationship with the West or the security threat to the country will increase. Otherwise the LTTE will reorganize.

SL forces never deliberately killed the civilians because its aim was to eliminate the terrorists not the civilians

"The Sri Lankan forces never killed civilians deliberately but in counter intelligence civilian deaths take place. Because, the intention of the government was to vanquish LTTE and not kill civilians, where 9,000 of the 11,000 LTTE cadres in government detention were those who surrendered.  SL ensured that every operational order had zero civilian casualties as a priority. From my research the total number of civilian deaths is 1,400 and LTTE 10,000. It is important to distinguish between an illegal combatant and a civilian. "

It is indeed a must read article.