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Black July `83 cannot be forgotten
Tuesday, 25 July 2006 - 4:53 AM SL Time
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The events of Black July `83 are not to be commemorated, but they cannot be forgotten. The reign of terror unleashed on that occasion should be remembered, first to laud and compliment the successive governments and political leaders who contributed their share to avert repetition of similar events and secondly to underscore the urgent need for removing the embers of discontent that still remain underneath.
Many political, religious and other leaders have contributed much to prevent the recurrence of such a horrendous situation. It was because of their efforts that the country was spared such an ugly event for the last 23 years. Those who instigated and prominently figured in those events gradually disappeared or were made to go into political oblivion.
Some of these leaders who made positive contributions to avert violent communal clashes since July `83 are dead while others are among the living. Although President J.R.Jayewardene and his party lieutenants were held responsible for the upheaval at that time, JRJ, as president did much to make amends and to ensure that the country would not return to such barbarity.
Being alive to the sense of injustice that the Tamil community suffered at that time, he boldly declared that all citizens, irrespective of their ethnic, religious or other differences, had the right to equality. That was a time when some leaders asserted that some communities were more equal than others.
JRJ then proceeded to incorporate in the new constitution his government framed, equal recognition to both Sinhala and Tamil languages. The rights that were guaranteed were made justifiable enabling those with complaints to seek legal remedy. He thus made many attempts to remove the sense of injustice that the Tamil community experienced and to bring back to the mainstream of national politics the disgruntled Tamil sections. He organized all-party conferences and meetings between the government and the LTTE. He offered district councils and later provincial councils under the Indo-Lanka accord of 1987. He had to push through these enactments in the teeth of fierce opposition even from some members of his party.
It was former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her PA Government that made the next serious attempt to remedy the Tamil grievances that kept simmering while the LTTE resorted to making predatory advances on these grievances. As president she resisted the attempts made by some sections in her own party to thwart her efforts. She went on to prepare and present in parliament a draft constitution aimed at resolving the ethnic conflict.
Next attempt was made by Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe who proceeded first to bring about a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. Although the ceasefire thus achieved brought temporary relief to the people of this war-ravaged country, he could not proceed further for two reasons. First was that he functioned within the restrictions of a cohabitational engagement under a president who had changing moods of cooperation and hostility. The second was the LTTE`s recalcitrance and refusal to cooperate with the government in the quest for a just and reasonable resolution of the conflict.
To the credit of the left parties it should be mentioned that they consistently stood by their commitment to the concept of equality. True their leaders who shared responsibility in some governments in the past could not make much headway as the principal partners of those governments generally had their way. Although the left leaders, Dr.N.M.Perera, Dr. Colvin R.de Silva and Peter Keuneman were in the cabinet of the United Front Government of 1970 and Dr. de Silva was the architect of the first republican constitution of 1972, they failed to incorporate their concepts as regards minority issues into the constitution. Ironically it was after the promulgation of that constitution that the Tamil parties completely lost hope and decided to ask for separation.
Whatever the past attempts and failures in this respect there have been certain developments in recent times that hold out some hope for an amicable settlement of the present problem. Today almost all major political parties declare their commitment to the concept of equality of status for all citizens in this country. If the parties honestly proceed on this basis finding solutions to the present problems will not be difficult.
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AnuD
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25 Jul 2006 02:09:26 GMT Report for Abuse
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This is just Editor wanted to make few points from tamils, so that, more newspapers can be sold.
Other wise, live in the past. Don't move on.
Sri Lankan people have forgotton the past by abadoning the racial violence. Sri Lankan lay people can tolerate even when bus loads of civilians are killed, not just SLDFs. |
Thambi
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25 Jul 2006 04:42:08 GMT Report for Abuse
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Black July '83 cannot be forgotten ??
The event transformed them into fight for an independent state TAMIL EELAM , now after 23 yeasrs ,a parallel state running to GOSL, but for the Sinhalese , TAMIL EELAM is unstoppable! Only an independent Thamil Eelam will free TAMIL people from the hegemonic and barbaric rule of Sinhalese!
AnuD
Sri Lankan people have forgotton the past by abadoning the racial violence. after 1983 , the event takes place till now !i have given few links below !
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5102456.stm
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18447
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18118
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=16730
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=16755
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18657
http://www.state-terrorism.net/state_terrorism3.htm
http://www.state-terrorism.net/state_terrorism4.htm
http://www.state-terrorism.net/state_terrorism5.htm
http://www.state-terrorism.net/state_terrorism6.htm
http://www.state-terrorism.net/1995/07/Navaly_Church_Bombed.htm
http://www.tamilnation.org/indictment/continuingwar/060426dbs_retaliation.htm
Twenty three (23) years ago on July 24, 1983 Sinhalese mobs executed an orgy of violence that surpassed all other previous pogroms. The pogrom commenced following the mass funeral of 13 Sinhalese soldiers killed in an ambush on the previous day in Jaffna by members of the Liberation Tigers of Thamil Eelam (LTTE).In a deliberate attempt to inflame racial passions the GOSL gave wide publicity to the killings by televising, broadcasting and publishing the news. On the contrary the reprisal killings in execution style of 51 innocent Thamils in Jaffna on July 24 by the army went unreported.
Edited By - Thambi - 25 Jul 2006 04:57:10 GMT |
Thambi
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25 Jul 2006 04:47:46 GMT Report for Abuse
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In Colombo, Sinhalese thugs armed with electoral lists and led by Buddhist monks in yellow robes burnt and looted Thamil homes, business and industrial establishments under the very nose of the armed forces. Thamil civilians were hunted down like dogs and killed. Children were thrown into burning cauldron of tar barrels. Clouds of smoke from burning Thamil homes blackened Colombo skies and soon the violence spread to other cities and towns. The orgy of violence continued till August 03, 1983.
The Government claimed that the attack on Tamil civilians was a spontaneous backlash by ordinary Sinhalese, but the scale and intensity of the killing sprees belied that claim. Some Sinhalese did risk their lives to save Tamil neighbors and friends from the marauding mobs, but the overwhelming majority did not.
Nothing was heard from President JR Jayewardene for 5 days into the pogrom and when he appeared on television he rubbed salt into the wounds. There was no apology to the victims of the violence from the head of state. Jayewardene brazenly justified the orgy of violence by declaring that the attacks were 'not a product of urban mobs but a mass movement of the generality of the Sinhalese people? and that 'the time had come to accede to the clamour and the national respect of the Sinhalese people.'
The 11 days of unmitigated violence propelled Sri Lanka into an era of war and destruction that has lasted for 23 years, costing further 65,000 lives or more and leaving the economy in tatters.
About 3,000 (official estimates 358) lives were lost and more than a 100,000 (75 per cent of them from Colombo) were rendered homeless and ended up in refugee camps. More than 100,000 fled to neighboring India as refugees. Several thousands more fled the country seeking refuge in the West, including Canada. In sheer scale and intensity the Black July pogrom surpassed all previous pogroms in 1956, 1958, 1977 and 1979.
Black July 83 saw the parting of the ways irrevocably of the Sinhalese and the Thamils politically and psychologically. Since then, the relationship between the Thamils and the Sinhalese has remained antagonistic and the divide between them have widened and not diminished. The one positive outcome of the Black July pogrom is the rise of Thamil militancy and Thamil nationalism and the thirst for an independent Thamil Eelam.
Canada has not helped a wee bit in ending the ethnic conflict and promoting peace in Sri Lanka. The listing of the LTTE as a terrorist organization has only helped the Sri Lankan government to 'cash in' on the 'terrorist' label and kill and maim more Thamils than before.
A foreign army is occupying a part of the land of our forefathers. Our kith and kin living under occupation are getting killed, raped and maimed by the Sinhala army. Even those who seek the refuge of churches are attacked and killed. |
Thambi
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25 Jul 2006 04:49:04 GMT Report for Abuse
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There is a way to end pogroms like Black July 83 permanently. It is to help transform the de facto state of Thamil Eelam into a de jure state! Only an independent Thamil Eelam will free our people from the hegemonic and barbaric rule of Sinhalese and allow them to live in peace, security and dignity. On this Black July 83 anniversary let us all double our efforts towards this noble goal.
Ref:
By: Press Release
Source: TCWA - July 22, 2006
GOSL is a state terrorist .
Edited By - Thambi - 25 Jul 2006 11:00:38 GMT |
Thambi
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25 Jul 2006 12:41:47 GMT Report for Abuse
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Menan
http://www.torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndGTA/2006/07/25/1701155-sun.html |
Ruwani
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25 Jul 2006 13:54:17 GMT Report for Abuse
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1948.... 1970.... 1983.... 2006 terrorist still exist more than 80,000 lives in the name of peace.
Call it a minor reaction for the 400 years of collaborating with the colonials to subjugate our people.
Edited By - Ruwani - 25 Jul 2006 14:06:47 GMT |
tamilcanuck
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25 Jul 2006 14:20:09 GMT Report for Abuse
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Anud wrote,
This is just Editor wanted to make few points from tamils, so that, more newspapers can be sold.
Ruwani wrote
minor reaction
one has to be in a position to tell whethjer it was minor or major. but compeared to what was happening in the North and east on a daily basis july 83 was a drop in the ocean although my perception of the country changed 23 yrs ago to the day.
only a woman who has given birth can relate to child birth.
only a person who has lived through and experienced it can relate to being a refugee in the land we were born.
the labour pains go away because you have a kid and it all seems worthwhile. this pain doesnt go away since the after effects was too costly.
every kid while growing up looks up to their parents as god, who can solve all your Problems. first time i realised my parents were as helpless as me. |
Ruwani
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25 Jul 2006 14:40:27 GMT Report for Abuse
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one has to be in a position to tell whethjer it was minor or major.
OK TC, minor or major do you agree that 400 years of collaborating with the suddhas to totally annihilate the majority was a good thing? |
LuLa
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25 Jul 2006 14:50:59 GMT Report for Abuse
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Call it a minor reaction for the 400 years of collaborating with the colonials to subjugate our people.
Ha! Ha! Ha! He! He! He! Hu! Hu! Hu! Hooooo! Hooo! Hoo!
Who is telling whom, look into a mirror.
Who took the Portuguse surnames???
Is there any Tamil De Silvas, Fernandos, Pereras, Dons and so on???
How did DS, SWRD, JR, and many others became leaders??? |
Ruwani
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25 Jul 2006 14:58:34 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Mokadha mae miniha modayek wage hema thissema hinaha wenne...mae minihata pissu dha mandha |
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