Written by: Priyanth Nallaratnam
It has been 3+ years since the height of the Tamil Genocide in Sri-Lanka, and yet there are a quite a few who lack understanding of our struggle. It doesn’t mean I am any smarter than others out there, but I believe that people should be in a consensus of what we are fighting for and why we are fighting for it.
People who are not joining this “consensus” think of the view as an extremist view. This view of the “common consensus” is very extreme because it tends to create an entire system that is built from ground up that will tend to challenge existing system(s) and institution(s). This is called a critical theory. This form of extremism is absolutely vital and is what we call revolution. Revolution always seeks its solution from critical theory. Critical theories are often supported by the majority amount of people who are tired of existing flaws in the structure and move towards an entirely different one that will ensure their survival and recognition of their political power. The need for a revolution arises mostly when the problem-solving theory fails. The name of the theory is itself self-explanatory. The problem solving theory tries to address problems within the structure, and present remedies that are meant to preserve the system and the infrastructure that’s in function. The flaw with the problem solving theory is that it focuses too much on preserving the system and infrastructure, that it fails to address people’s concern which leads to disastrous outcomes and sometimes disintegration of the system and infrastructure itself.
In our 60+year struggle, both the approaches have been tried and the critical theory has been so far remarkably successful. The reason problem solving theory did not work was because trying to solve the Tamil problem under a flawed system in a democratic way is just impossible, and Chelvanayakam’s struggle evidently proved it when he started to embrace the critical theory in the 70s.
The whole country of Sri-Lanka is built on racist views against the Tamils from the ground up, and many riots from the 1940s until today, have critically proved that the majority of the people and the structure itself have no concern for the Tamil population in the island. The flaw still exists and has broadened considerably after the end of the armed conflict.
The simple way to prove the genocidal system they have implemented against the Tamils in the island still exists; can be understood through the very nature of the social justice for the Tamils that are being addressed. The government not only strictly denies its role in committing the atrocious Genocide but also continually shows that the Tamils deserve no form of social justice and should be quickly assimilated into their racist society (in the name of reconciliation), which again will only give arise to another set of discriminating policies and riots against the Tamils residing in the north and east of the state.
The concept of reconciliation itself has a major hole in it which people are blind to. Some people or groups focusing on reconciliation should understand that their project is not to enforce the Tamil identity but is rather going to completely erase it in any way they can and form a chauvinist Sri-Lankan identity. To start off: To be a Sri Lankan (regardless of Tamil or Sinhalese) is a disgrace specially to know that the country (which is not secular) created/follows a flawed version of Buddhism. Buddhism is supposed to preach non-violence, selflessness and a life that absolutely lacks desires; which in no amount can be found in Ceylon/Sri-Lanka.
The peak of Tamil Genocide from 2008-2009 evidently proves that Sri-Lanka is following its own form of vile Buddhism that directly insults true Buddhism. The Sri-Lankan identity automatically entitles the person: responsible for the brutal Tamil Genocide, representing and obeying the Genocidal constitution which was formed against the Tamils and representing a non-secular state that not only misrepresents Buddhism but also insults it. This might sound really harsh but are drawn from solid facts.
Quite a few are attracted to this concept of reconciliation and these are the people, who try seeking an immediate remedy and fall into the problem-solving concept within a severely flawed system. What has to be understood is that livestock in slaughterhouses are fed, but at the end of the day they reside inside the slaughterhouse, which marks their demise. The Tamils in the North and East of Sri-Lanka are in a similar situation. Addressing their immediate concern would ease their pain temporarily, but unless we seek out a permanent solution that gives Tamils an absolute social justice, can we save ourselves from our own demise.
If reconciliation were possible, our struggle would have ended within 3 years after the British left an independent Ceylon. The reason it kept failing is because the country itself is flawed, still flawed and any form of solution from this country is only focused to exterminate the Tamils like they have did in the past.
I think it’s up to people to question themselves about their path and analyze it to see whether their solution would seek a permanent solution to the Tamils in North and the East, or a painful demise; it is in each ones hands. The ones with the least amount of far-sighted vision would understand this, but for people who are seeking a quick solution; this will look radical. We saw how the problem solving theory would never work in our struggle regardless how hard one tries to prove it. The one and only reason is: The problem solving theory focuses on preserving a vile and genocidal system against the Tamils which aims only to please the “Sri Lankan” population but will not give the absolute social justice to our people in the north and the east. Critical theories are always meant to challenge, and always take time, but implementing a solution from critical theory foundation will have vast benefits to the people who wanted change. Tamileelam is a critical theory which certainly challenges many people’s views, but when it becomes legitimate it will be a place where Tamils can eternally exercise their rights and freedom, an eternal benefit the Tamils always wanted.
Tags: Speak Out
