Sumanthiran spinmeister of ‘past’ times?
Sunday 15 July 2012
By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan
You had addressed the audience at the ‘Platform for Freedom’ in Matara recently, and you were quoted as saying it’s the first time a Tamil politician got an opportunity to speak in the South. Do you advocate in everything there should be a 50-50 share for Tamils and the Sinhalese? If not, what does it mean?
I was introduced as the first Tamil politician from the North to have come to address a meeting in Matara. Therefore when I started, I said I am not sure whether that claim is correct or not, but that I too cannot recall such an instance after independence. I cannot see what relevance this comment has to do with 50-50 or anything like that!
You had said, Tamils want self determination and it does not mean negating the rights of the Sinhalese or not admitting that the majority are the Sinhalese. But don’t you think the words ‘self determination’ also could mean much more than that which you address here? Those same words were used by the LTTE and they went to the extent of asking for a separate state. At a time peace is prevailing, why do you have to use those same words the LTTE and many people who spoke of Eelam used?
Self-determination means self-determination, nothing more or nothing less than that. I used the word to mean exactly what it means. The fact that others may have abused that word does not mean that I can’t use it to convey its correct meaning.
Sinhalese and Tamils are living far more peacefully than the people of South Africa, where apartheid caused great discomfiture to the whole world? Don’t we enjoy unity and dignity among all races in Sri Lanka than in many other countries?
Self-determination is a term of art in international law. The UN and the Human Rights charters are based on this foundational principle. All peoples are entitled to it, and the Tamils in Sri Lanka cannot be denied it merely because LTTE also used that claim. Oppressed Peoples are everywhere, and it will not be possible to compare and pronounce that a particular situation is better than the other. The different peoples in Sri Lanka certainly do not enjoy equality or dignity that they are entitled to in law.
You are saying words such as federalism and transparency are dirty words only in Sri Lanka. But in so called countries you talk of, the US, Canada, India and Australia, none attempted to destroy each other like it happened in Sri Lanka in the past 30 years. That way federalism is much appreciated in other countries. Do you agree with that?
Yes, I agree, and that is precisely my point! If there is federalism, there is less chance for the different peoples to try to destroy each other. If we accept a federal structure of government, we too can live like the peoples in the US, Canada, Australia and India.
Talking about the LLRC report, you know that the LLRC is mainly for reconciliation process between the two ethnic groups but you dig and drill into the past. Past cannot heal the present or the future, do you disagree? True, there were unfortunate and grave mistakes made, but can that be a stumbling block for the reconciliation process if you keep drilling and digging?
No genuine reconciliation can ever take place without properly and fully dealing with the past. You cannot tell the mother who is still looking for her son who has disappeared to just forget it and be ‘reconciled’.
Many say you are one of those who advocate separatism lately. You want the National Anthem also sung in Tamil. Tell me if you prefer singing the song which already has lengthy verses and repeating it in Tamil too? How could that bring harmony among everyone? Isn’t that a weak attempt to prove that Tamils have the right to sing it in Tamil, like the Sinhalese do it in Sinhala?
A prejudiced mind will see a ghost behind every bush! I never said that singing the National Anthem in two languages will bring harmony. All I said was that this was only a symbolic recommendation of the LLRC, but that the government is not ready to implement even a symbolic recommendation.
What do you think of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s claim that the LLRC has some ridiculous recommendations and one of it is singing the national anthem in Tamil too? What do you really want for the Tamils from a national anthem? How do you want to incorporate the Tamil version; what is your suggestion?
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s pronouncement tells us that if even the symbolic recommendation that involves nothing extra, since the Tamil version of the National Anthem is already in the Constitution, is considered ridiculous, none of the substantive recommendations will ever be implemented.
You spoke of an incident in Kilinochchi where school children were stopped from singing the national anthem in Tamil and were asked to sing in Sinhala. Tell us exactly what happened there?
When the school children were singing the National anthem in Tamil, the army personnel went in and stopped them from singing the national anthem.
So, do you think being a minority -- the achievement of self determination is only by doing things ‘equally’ with the majority?
This question just demonstrates the total lack of understanding of the National problem in this country.
You had said that a man in Vanni in 2010 approached you and asked you to find his two daughters who went missing two days before his two sons were shot dead when they refused to join the LTTE. You said the father is in search of the two daughters and want the govt to investigate. How is it possible to investigate now what the LTTE did? You mostly suggest impossibilities in your speech. True, some faced horrendous moments in life. Again isn’t that digging the past when we are cracking our heads on how to reconcile?
I did not ask the Government to investigate. I only told a real story. We don’t need to crack our heads, but just do the right things if we want reconciliation. The fundamental requirement for reconciliation is the ascertainment of truth.
We have a few Sinhala political chauvinists existing among us and why do you have to be like one of them? Your statement that you are very much pleased to speak in the South and respect the majority and their rich culture and traditions is admirable; why not remain a person who does not advocate separatism and self determination and look forward to living in harmony with all communities?
Firstly, I am not a Sinhala political chauvinist! Nor am I a chauvinist of any kind. As I have indicated earlier, self-determination is the fundamental right of every people. You cannot have harmony among different peoples by denying their fundamental rights.
In the LLRC inquiry was there no truth? The UN advised the govt.There are several truths in the allegations -- and to probe. Will you explain what is swept under the carpet by the government? Can we talk about the reconciliation process rather than the past which is the need of the hour?
Genuine reconciliation is about dealing with the past in a truthful manner.
Do you think the Tamil politicians and politics are sufficiently realistic, rational and moderate?
Of course they are!
Do you see Sri Lanka as a Sinhala polity and wish to carve out a Tamil polity which will have an equal status?
Sri Lanka is not a homogenous society. It consists of different peoples. Unless we acknowledge this reality and re-arrange our governance structures to accommodate this reality, we will not solve the National problem.
Sunday 15 July 2012
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M. Sumanthiran says, genuine reconciliation is about ‘dealing with the past in a truthful manner’ and self-determination ‘does not mean negating the rights of the majority…’
By Sulochana Ramiah MohanYou had addressed the audience at the ‘Platform for Freedom’ in Matara recently, and you were quoted as saying it’s the first time a Tamil politician got an opportunity to speak in the South. Do you advocate in everything there should be a 50-50 share for Tamils and the Sinhalese? If not, what does it mean?
I was introduced as the first Tamil politician from the North to have come to address a meeting in Matara. Therefore when I started, I said I am not sure whether that claim is correct or not, but that I too cannot recall such an instance after independence. I cannot see what relevance this comment has to do with 50-50 or anything like that!
You had said, Tamils want self determination and it does not mean negating the rights of the Sinhalese or not admitting that the majority are the Sinhalese. But don’t you think the words ‘self determination’ also could mean much more than that which you address here? Those same words were used by the LTTE and they went to the extent of asking for a separate state. At a time peace is prevailing, why do you have to use those same words the LTTE and many people who spoke of Eelam used?
Self-determination means self-determination, nothing more or nothing less than that. I used the word to mean exactly what it means. The fact that others may have abused that word does not mean that I can’t use it to convey its correct meaning.
Sinhalese and Tamils are living far more peacefully than the people of South Africa, where apartheid caused great discomfiture to the whole world? Don’t we enjoy unity and dignity among all races in Sri Lanka than in many other countries?
Self-determination is a term of art in international law. The UN and the Human Rights charters are based on this foundational principle. All peoples are entitled to it, and the Tamils in Sri Lanka cannot be denied it merely because LTTE also used that claim. Oppressed Peoples are everywhere, and it will not be possible to compare and pronounce that a particular situation is better than the other. The different peoples in Sri Lanka certainly do not enjoy equality or dignity that they are entitled to in law.
You are saying words such as federalism and transparency are dirty words only in Sri Lanka. But in so called countries you talk of, the US, Canada, India and Australia, none attempted to destroy each other like it happened in Sri Lanka in the past 30 years. That way federalism is much appreciated in other countries. Do you agree with that?
Yes, I agree, and that is precisely my point! If there is federalism, there is less chance for the different peoples to try to destroy each other. If we accept a federal structure of government, we too can live like the peoples in the US, Canada, Australia and India.
Talking about the LLRC report, you know that the LLRC is mainly for reconciliation process between the two ethnic groups but you dig and drill into the past. Past cannot heal the present or the future, do you disagree? True, there were unfortunate and grave mistakes made, but can that be a stumbling block for the reconciliation process if you keep drilling and digging?
No genuine reconciliation can ever take place without properly and fully dealing with the past. You cannot tell the mother who is still looking for her son who has disappeared to just forget it and be ‘reconciled’.
Many say you are one of those who advocate separatism lately. You want the National Anthem also sung in Tamil. Tell me if you prefer singing the song which already has lengthy verses and repeating it in Tamil too? How could that bring harmony among everyone? Isn’t that a weak attempt to prove that Tamils have the right to sing it in Tamil, like the Sinhalese do it in Sinhala?
A prejudiced mind will see a ghost behind every bush! I never said that singing the National Anthem in two languages will bring harmony. All I said was that this was only a symbolic recommendation of the LLRC, but that the government is not ready to implement even a symbolic recommendation.
What do you think of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s claim that the LLRC has some ridiculous recommendations and one of it is singing the national anthem in Tamil too? What do you really want for the Tamils from a national anthem? How do you want to incorporate the Tamil version; what is your suggestion?
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s pronouncement tells us that if even the symbolic recommendation that involves nothing extra, since the Tamil version of the National Anthem is already in the Constitution, is considered ridiculous, none of the substantive recommendations will ever be implemented.
You spoke of an incident in Kilinochchi where school children were stopped from singing the national anthem in Tamil and were asked to sing in Sinhala. Tell us exactly what happened there?
When the school children were singing the National anthem in Tamil, the army personnel went in and stopped them from singing the national anthem.
So, do you think being a minority -- the achievement of self determination is only by doing things ‘equally’ with the majority?
This question just demonstrates the total lack of understanding of the National problem in this country.
You had said that a man in Vanni in 2010 approached you and asked you to find his two daughters who went missing two days before his two sons were shot dead when they refused to join the LTTE. You said the father is in search of the two daughters and want the govt to investigate. How is it possible to investigate now what the LTTE did? You mostly suggest impossibilities in your speech. True, some faced horrendous moments in life. Again isn’t that digging the past when we are cracking our heads on how to reconcile?
I did not ask the Government to investigate. I only told a real story. We don’t need to crack our heads, but just do the right things if we want reconciliation. The fundamental requirement for reconciliation is the ascertainment of truth.
We have a few Sinhala political chauvinists existing among us and why do you have to be like one of them? Your statement that you are very much pleased to speak in the South and respect the majority and their rich culture and traditions is admirable; why not remain a person who does not advocate separatism and self determination and look forward to living in harmony with all communities?
Firstly, I am not a Sinhala political chauvinist! Nor am I a chauvinist of any kind. As I have indicated earlier, self-determination is the fundamental right of every people. You cannot have harmony among different peoples by denying their fundamental rights.
In the LLRC inquiry was there no truth? The UN advised the govt.There are several truths in the allegations -- and to probe. Will you explain what is swept under the carpet by the government? Can we talk about the reconciliation process rather than the past which is the need of the hour?
Genuine reconciliation is about dealing with the past in a truthful manner.
Do you think the Tamil politicians and politics are sufficiently realistic, rational and moderate?
Of course they are!
Do you see Sri Lanka as a Sinhala polity and wish to carve out a Tamil polity which will have an equal status?
Sri Lanka is not a homogenous society. It consists of different peoples. Unless we acknowledge this reality and re-arrange our governance structures to accommodate this reality, we will not solve the National problem.
