Civil Society in TamilEelam is continuing the proud tradition of the political activism.
Resistance in the current climate carries the risk of death. But that never deterred the many before them. It will not stop the many that are to come in the future.
This is a lesson for the Diaspora Tamils who continue to wobble post 2009. You never have to worry about the people in TamilEelam not speaking up. No amount of killing has kept our people suppressed. They have been consistent and they have been unwavering.
Dear Tamil Diaspora,
You enjoy a protected and expansive political and democratic space. You have a moral duty to fight to create the same in Sri Lanka. So that the people of TamilEelam can continue on their own without repression. You are not asked to shed blood. You never have. Sons and Daughters of TamilEelam did. People on the ground know what to do. They always have.
Even before TamilEelam was annexed to the Sri Lankan state in 1948, people of TamilEelam have been active politically. And an assertive ones at that much to the dislike of the colonizers and the cronies. Jaffna Youth Congress was the 1st to agitate for self-rule. It led the boycott of the State council elections in Jaffna.
“We are not prepared to accept anything less than total independence. We appeal to the Sinhalese also to reject it.”
“T.C.Rajaratnam, a lawyer, in his emotional presidential address, was forthright. Inthu Sathanam, March 13, 1930 and Ceylon Daily News, March 14, 1930 quoted him as saying,
What we want is freedom for our motherland. We don’t want anything less. What we want are the rights to which we are entitled. We will accept nothing else. What we want is our birthright. We ask the British, “Give us our birthright.”
“The same evening a few youths ran to the Jaffna Clock Tower which was close to the Jaffna Central College playground where the sports meet was held, brought down the Union Jack, the British flag, and hoisted the Nandi flag, the flag of the Jaffna Kingdom. “
Sinhala State cruised to independence on the wake of Indian agitation. They never shed enough blood, tears and sweat to appreciate the struggle to be free. To be able to develop empathy towards others struggling to be free. It was even evident in the way S.W.R.D Bandaranaike was mocking the Jaffna Youth for their protests.
Sri Lanka state did pay a heavy price with blood, sweat and tears to continue its occupation of TamilEelam since 1948: Propagating the chosen land for the chosen people myth. It has shown that it will go to any length to keep its hold on TamilEelam. It is propagated by the Dayan Jeyatilakie dictum of we have defeated you so stop trying anymore. Terming the Tamil quest as political fundamentalism and eternally secessionist.
Tamil’s political clarity came from a clear understanding that the Sri Lankan state is structurally sinhala buddhist. Leaving no room for anyone else. Incapable of re-structuring it self. It has no hope for reform.
So Tamil Diaspora, shed your hope against hope for a reforming Sri Lanka. Develop the same conviction and courage as the people of your land and follow their lead.
As it was said in March 13 1930 and repeated in August 15, 2012
What we want is our Birth Right
