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We want to go home - Plea from surrendered would-be LTTE child soldiers
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nirupam
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 19 Jan 2007 09:55:05 GMT Report for Abuse
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Nandhimitra,
Ultra Sinhalese nationalist uprising
The uprising in 1971 and 1989 were to topple the elected Govts. N_E uprising was for a just cause of regaining lost rights and never intended to topple the Govt at the centre. On the contrary agreements were made by the leaders of majority and minorities to find a solution within a united/unitary state.
The Sinhala Only was directed against the non-Sinhalese speaking minorities, which was against the law at the time. Clause 29 of the pre-1972 constitution barred any govt to pass any act that discriminated ethnic groups on the ground of language or religion. It was illegal and in 1972 the govt with the Sinhala majority changed the constitution by jettisoning that Clause 29.
Further, we all are Sri Lankans and must be treated as such. Sinhala Only and the other ensuing discriminatory legislations (example - Buddhism given a foremost place) treat the minorities as second class citizens. All the leaders (PMs and Presidents) admitted the minoritieas have grievances.
The minorities did try democratic means to find a solution, agreements were signed but the then Opposition parties colluded with Sinhala-Buddhist clegy to sabotage them and repeated anti-Tamil riots. So peaceful protests were suppressed with armed military and the militancy replaced the peaceful approaches.
Yet, no viable solution - that enables the system to function itself without the interference of the Centre that always is headed by a Sinhala leader - is offered. Until that happens no one can put down the uprising/opposition of that minorities. MR can kill VP but there are many will fit into his shoes.
In tackling those Southeren uprising, no inhuman and barbaric methods were used, namely bombing and starvation.
So comparing 'ultra-nationalist' uprising with undemocratic oppression and military suppression of minorities is completely wrong and intended to mislead others.
Edited By - nirupam - 19 Jan 2007 10:16:40 GMT |
Nandhimitra
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19 Jan 2007 10:53:29 GMT Report for Abuse
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Thanks Nirupam Once again,
Before the British and other colonialists came to Lanka
the official language of Lanka or Sinhale or Hela diva
or whatever it was called was Singhalese.Even the last four Tamil kings of Sinhalese kingdom used Sinhala as
official language.But everybody was free to use any language as they wished.Even Sinhalese sometimes used Tamil language to read and write.It was the British who
introduced English for government official work to be done in English only.Don't you think this is a injustice?That's why Bandaranaike rectified this historical mistake done by the British?There was no Intention at all to discriminate against any minority.But also do not forget when Tamils requested, Tamil language was recognized as a official language as English.Can't you remember we had all three languages printed in all government forms those days.This was a problem only to power hungry Tamil politicians.So Sinhala only act was not a big issue.After all 80% of the population at that time were Sinhalese.
REGARDING:your comment on 1971& 1989, Please read 'Lost Revolution' by Rohan Gunaratne and you will realize how ignorant you are about JVP insurrections.We all agree improvements are necessary to governance in SriLanka.But that should be not on communal or religious lines.Hope you will enlighten on this subject.If anybody wants a separate Tamil state its only in tamilnadu.Even 65 million Tamils in tamilnadu have a problem of accepting Jaffna Tamils.Is it because they have a inferiority complex?or they do not know to live with other people.Srilanka's problems are not confined to North or south alone.They are common to all.For the south it was class problem and to the north they say its ethnic problem.But the truth is It's a socio economic problem.With all violence and terrorism Srilanka is down the drain for all SriLankans.So please be good enough to understand all this and we rectify our attitude problem.Best of Luck.
Cheers |
Nandhimitra
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19 Jan 2007 11:19:06 GMT Report for Abuse
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Nirupam,
I can't understand giving Buddhism it's due place affected you guys?Did they tell you guys to become Buddhists?or tell you guys not to practice whatever
religion you believe.Don't forget the 2500 year old Sinhalese civilization is based on Wewai Daagabai
Gamai Pansalai.(Tank,Pagoda,Village and Temple)Even the British in 1815 promised to give prominence to Buddhism in the Kandyan convention when they took control of Lanka.When they broke the promise only Keppettipola joined the Sinhalese rebels sending the British weapons back to them in 1818.So what is wrong Buddhism given its lost glory.How can you guys become second class citizens?We need some logical thinking not just excuses.To topple the Govt or Have a separate state is basically the same thing.Security forces of a nation gives an oath when they join to protect the nation from all external or internal threats.So do not cry foul every time the forces do their duty.All should think as SRILANKANS. |
Gunapala
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 19 Jan 2007 11:38:28 GMT Report for Abuse
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Tigers have victoriously and tactically withdrawn from Vaharai area while SLGF?s rename the area as Viharaya; the ancient name of the area. A team of Archaeological Dept of SL are already heading towards to Viharaya area for preliminary estimate to refurbish the ancient Buddhidt viharaya situated close to the town. |
Ariyalai_SB
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 19 Jan 2007 11:40:17 GMT Report for Abuse
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Nandhimitra,
I am sorry to intrude:
Buddhism came to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC.
The Mahavamsa was written in the 6th century AD.
Now, please tell me as to why was Mahavamsa not written in Sinhala, but in Pali? |
nirupam
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19 Jan 2007 11:43:53 GMT Report for Abuse
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Nachimitra,
You are trying to confuse issues as many other Sinhalese. No matter what British did to Sri Lanka, because the same thing was done to other colonials. In Malaysia too English Was the Official Language. They wanted to develop their Malay which like Sinhalese in Sri Lanka, wasspoken only in Malaysia. They let Singapore, its Chinese dominated province go separate and started developing their culture and Language. If you go into history you muddle everything because you are talking about different things written by different people with different motives. It does not matter what British did, a Jaffna Tamil or Trincomalee Muslim must be treated as a Kandyan Sinhalese. Otherwise no peace, no progress, but war and turmoil. This is 21st century, even the immigrants in the West are treated better than indegenous Tamils or Muslims in Sri Lanka. An immigrant is given translations when claiming benefits there whereas Tamil/Muslim in NE has to sign any Police report written only in Sinhalese with no explnations.
You do not seem to accept that all Sri Lankans must be treated equal , because Sinhala Only, denies that basic principle. Sinhalese have never been more than 74% of the population. In Singapore Tamils are just less than 6% of the population, they were brought there by British like upcountry Tamils. They did not blame British and ill treat a section of the population because that is counter productive and destrutive as seen in Sri Lanka.
We are prepared to live with any special place for Buddhism only because language is the most divisive issue at the moment.
Don't talk about separation as that came up as a last resort after every other move to compromise was blocked by the South. A genuine devolution can work if only the leaders are genuine. |
Nandhimitra
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19 Jan 2007 12:02:09 GMT Report for Abuse
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Ariyalai_SB,
Do you know why even today in temples in SriLanka the Buddhist gatha's are chanted in Pali?Do you know who authored Mahawansa?Also do you know that in Maldives the spoken language thivehi is ancient Sinhalese?And Maldives was part of Lanka until recently?
I hope you understood. |
Nandhimitra
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19 Jan 2007 12:09:27 GMT Report for Abuse
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Nirupam,
I'm 200% with you to treat all SriLankans as equals.Forget the past mistakes by all.Lets strive for a United SriLanka for all. |
Ariyalai_SB
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19 Jan 2007 12:53:45 GMT Report for Abuse
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Nandhimitra,
Thanks for your reply.
Prof. J. B. Dissanayake in his book 'Understanding the Sinhalese' at page 118 states:
....Sinhala occupies a unique position among the languages of South Asia because of its close affinity, with two of the major linguistic families of the Indian sub continent Indo-Aryan and Dravidian...' From this, one can conclude that Sinhala in written form could have been made by one or many, who knew both Dravidian and Aryan language. Thus early Dravidian Buddhist priests were scholars in Tamil, Pali and Sanskrit, to make Sinhala in spoken and written form possible.
So when did the Sinhala language establish itself a medium in a true sense of the word? What aspects contributed to its evolution?
Also do you know that in Maldives the spoken language thivehi is ancient Sinhalese?And Maldives was part of Lanka until recently?
I am sorry; I did not know this; please enlighten me as to when Maldives was part of Sri Lanka. If Maldives were to be part of Sri Lanka, isn?t it conceivable that India was part of Sri Lanka? |
Saervek
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19 Jan 2007 13:02:24 GMT Report for Abuse
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Ariyalai_SB,
Now, please tell me as to why was Mahavamsa not written in Sinhala, but in Pali?
Probably because it was written by a Buddhist monk (Mahanama). Pali is the liturgical language of Theravada Buddhism, much like Latin is of Roman Catholicism. Even today, one of the Official Languages of the Vatican is Latin. |
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