'Catastrophy for Sri Lanka to take triumphant position' - Ramachandra Guha

London (PTI): A noted historian has warned that it would be catastrophic for Sri Lanka to take a triumphant position on its victory over LTTE and it is time the country gave democracy and pluralism a chance. 

"In the aftermath of defeat of Tamil Tigers, it would be catastrophic if the Sri Lankan Government were to take a triumphant position. I am told there is a proposal to build statues of a Sri Lankan King who died 2,000 years ago to commemorate the victory," Ramachandra Guha, the Bangalore-based historian and biographer said while delivering the fifth Nehru memorial Lecture 2009 on "Democracy and Violence in South Asia and Beyond" at the Nehru Centre here on Friday night. 

Patrick French, a noted writer presided over the function, which was attended by the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Shiv Shankar Mukherjee. 

Drawing a parallel between the violence in Jammu and Kashmir and Northern Sri Lanka, Mr. Guha who has previously taught at the Universities of Yale and Stanford, said: "Just as Kashmir is a big blot on India's democracy, the treatment of Tamils is a signal failure of Sri Lankan democracy. 

"As in Kashmir, the problem arose because of denial of democracy's software and hardware - elections were rigged both in Kashmir and Northern Sri Lanka," he said, adding "cultural pluralism in terms of language, in terms of dress, in terms of faith is a serious part of democracy." 

The historian said "in northern Sri Lanka, apart from rigging the elections, there was discrimination on the basis of language and religion". 

Mr. Guha said in 1956 Sinhala was made the sole official language of the island placing it on a position of superiority. This act of injustice was compounded in 1972 when Buddhism was made official religion of Sri Lanka - meaning Buddhists were superior to Tamils, Muslims, Christians and Hindus. 

"Discrimination on the basis of religion and language was further intensified by the burning of the great Jaffna Library in 1981 when the Sri Lankan army in an act of petty and vicious vindictiveness put to flame the great repository of Tamil culture and two years later, there was a progrom against Tamils in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, orchestrated and directed by ruling politicians," he stressed. 

Mr. Guha also noted that the LTTE supremo V Prabhakaran had assassinated every rival Tamil politician. Emphasising that the Tamils in Sri Lanka had also made "terrible mistakes", he said "Prabhakaran led the Tamil people down the road to disaster." 

Answering a question, Mr. Guha said he wanted India to be a "more contented and less violent place." 

He said "the greatness of modern Indian democracy is that every citizen is equal, regardless of language and religion. That is what Sri Lanka can learn from India."

Non existing people (a poem)

I have no identity card
Am I not a man?
I lost my birth certificate
Was I not born?
Valid passport?
To go where if the road is closed
License to drive (what drives)
I cannot help laughing
When they ask for a railway season ticket
Then they ask if I have
A special identity document
I am thinking of my identity for a long time
Actually, where am I in the history?
Who am I?
-Ajith Perakum Jayasinghe

JHU of Sri Lanka likely to quit the government?

(July 05, 2009) Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) the monk dominated Sinhala Buddhist nationalist-religious political party of Sri Lanka is likely to revoke its support to the government following a meeting with the President Mahinda Rajapakse tomorrow, the observers say.

The party is under pressure due to the government's proclaimed stance on implementing the 13th amendment of the constitution fully that devolves the police and land powers to the Provincial Councils. The government has to take this minimal measure to mend its relationships with the Western powers and the neighboring India that urge the government to redress the political problems of the Tamils.

JHU's power contender Marxist nationalist People's Liberation Front (JVP) has already taken a hardline stand against the 13th amendment. JHU is in fear of losing its Sinhala nationalist vote base as a result of being a coalition partner of a government that devolves power to Tamils.

However, at present, the JHU is not in a position to go to a direct clash with the all powerful President, the observers say. Their stand will mostly be catalized by the actions the JVP will take against the 13th amendment, they say.

Editor asks for blood of a journalist in Sri Lanka

(July 04, 2009) A clash seemingly erupted between a newspaper editor and an alternate media journalist of Sri Lanka has risen to the height of the editor asking for blood of the journalist.

The side of the journalist say that the editor threatened him saying he would inform a senior defense authority that the journalist was abetting terrorism.

As the journalist is taking action for his safety, the newspapers linked to the editor is now openly saying that the journalist is trying to escape from the country.

The local and international media organizations are silent regarding the incident.

On the day, the Working Sri Lanka Journalists' Association secretary Poddala Jayantha was abducted and assaulted, while having a discussion with the media organizations, the President Mahinda Rajapakse proposed the journalists to settle the conflicts among them, reported Ravaya editor-in-chief Victor Ivan.

We thoroughly emphasize that the first step to bring democracy to Sri Lankan society is to demilitarize the media

Sri Lanka favours GM food: agriculture minister

Sri Lanka favours GM food: agriculture minister

July 03, 2009 (LBO) - Sri Lanka is not opposed to genetically modified (GM) food and is likely to allow their use with certain restrictions, a government minister has said. (Read in Lanka Business Online)

Demilitarize media to bring democracy to society

(July 03, 2009) On the day, the Working Sri Lanka Journalists' Association secretary Poddala Jayantha was abducted and assaulted, while having a discussion with the media organizations, the President Mahinda Rajapakse proposed the journalists to settle the conflicts among them, reported Ravaya editor-in-chief Victor Ivan.

He meant the conflict between the pro-war and anti-war journalists. Anti-war journalists are today branded as the Tiger associates by the victorious pro-war media.

This phenomenon is reflected once again with an incident reported by Sunanda Deshapriya in the Freedom of Expression Sri Lanka blog. The title of the post is 'Death threats to Ravaya journalist from Divaina editor.' (You can read it by clicking the headline.)

We do not think the Army Commander or any other authority is naive enough to take any journalists tale readily and to punish a person swiftly. The problem remains among the journalists themselves. Sri Lankan journalists have to cultivate the patience to tolerate diverse opinions. They who criticize others should be able to bear criticism on them as well. Pens should be dealt with pens and not by guns.

First step to bring democracy to Sri Lankan society is to demilitarize the media persons. One party in Sri Lanka has already been demilitarized with the defeat of the Tamil nationalist militant movement.According to Ravaya editor Victor Ivan, the defeated party is also similar to the victorious.

Sri Lanka President's senior adviser visits Aceh

(July 03, 2009) Basil Rajapaksa, senior adviser to the Sri Lankan president, visited in Aceh in Indonesia on Wednesday and Thursday on a two-day fact-finding mission to "learn from and share experiences *with Indonesia*," on how to overcome problems in keeping peace.

Upon his arrival, Rajapaksa met with the Aceh Reintegration Body (BRA) that deals with socio-political problems pertaining to former combatants of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), reported Jakartha Post.

Excerpt from the Jakartha Post:

The Wednesday meeting between Rajapaksa and BRA leader Nur Juli revealed that the Sri Lankan government is facing post-conflict problems, especially in the reintegration of former LTTE combatants and other citizens.

The Aceh separatist conflict typically had similarities with the conflicts involving the Tamil Tigers, Rajapaksa said.

But the peace process in Aceh was distinctly different to the Sri Lankan separatist war, he said.
"The truce in Aceh was achieved in a peaceful manner without bloodshed, while Sri Lanka ended its conflict with an armed settlement," Nur Juli said.

Sri Lanka was keen to learn how Indonesia had established peace in Aceh and reintegrated former GAM rebels into society, he said.

"We provide them with input on what Sri Lanka should do better to maintain peace and its reintegration process," Nur Juli added.