Speeches creating hatred and animosity should be banned. Not one religion preached hatred or animosity. As of today our country is not secular and have a Ministry for religious affairs but none take note of anti-religious preachings. A pity.

If the so-called religious leaders practise what they preach or what they have been taught to preach our country will not be in state it is today.

Religious leaders please take note. Over to you .

Let GOD Almighty gives us ONE Statesman/Stateswoman

We can only pray to the Almighty GOD in all earnestness to have mercy on our country and do something to make us happy.

I’m afraid you’re misinformed, Look. Just one indicted Serb criminal (Valstimir Djordjevic, who’s just been arrested) is accused of killing hundreds of Kosovar Albanians, deporting 800,000 (Al Jazeera). There are many more.

“but probably not on a larger scale than what is done by the sri lankans in the tamil homeland”

On what basis do you think so? Numbers? Or tactics?

“and serbia was not bent on ethnically cleansing the kosovo which was, by the way, almost exclusively inhabited by albanians, ”

Again, you’re misinformed. Fighting terrorism was the name under which the ethnic cleansing was carried out, and the latter was done so that the Serb minority (Kosovo wasn’t exclusively ethnic Albanian, though they were the majority, just as the Muslims were in Bosnia) could be artificially expanded by Serbians from Serbia, giving the latter justification for retaining the province.

“No, just concentration camps, institutionalized rape, mass executions of entire populations, etc. Have a look at the Hague war crimes list. This is not a subject for jokes, Look.”

where was I joking? However, you are mixing things up, the huge war crimes happened during the war in bosnia-herzegovina (committed by the forces of the serbian minority there and not by serbia, which was a different republic then) and not during the campaign in kosovo. of course there have been crimes committed by the serb forces in that campaign, but probably not on a larger scale than what is done by the sri lankans in the tamil homeland. and serbia was not bent on ethnically cleansing the kosovo which was, by the way, almost exclusively inhabited by albanians, but only in “combating terrorism”. I hope you see the similarities to sri lanka, David.

Look, you need to understand what ethnic cleansing is first of all. It is NOT the temporary removal of parts of a population from combat areas, such as the Army has done (fairly well) in the NE, the Brits did (very well) in Malaya, and the US and USSR did (very badly) in Vietnam and Afghanistan. This was done to separate the enemy from that popular support base. In Malaya and the NE, as soon as the enemy was pushed out of the area and it was secure, the civilian population was encouraged to resettle. In Kosovo, what the Serb paramilitary police units were doing was driving out ethnic Albanian Kosovars from areas that were deemed to be ethnically Serb, so that their homes and lands could be occupied by ethnic Serb Kosovars and Serb nationals from the Republic of Serbia. I hope you can see the distinction.

“by the way, Yugoslavia fell apart some ten years before the war in Kosovo. This war had actually not much to do with the breakup”

I never said it was. In fact it was arguably the breakup that caused the war.

“And I doubt that albanians in Serbia are/were more persecuted than tamils in sri lanka. No mob violence, no white van killings there”

No, just concentration camps, institutionalized rape, mass executions of entire populations, etc. Have a look at the Hague war crimes list. This is not a subject for jokes, Look.

But Serbia was an integral part of Jugoslavia, and when the latter fell apart, the rules changed, as it were, and many things were up for consideration. Couple that with the blatant physical persecution and ethnic cleansing of the Kosovar Albanians, and you see a different picture emerging from SL.

“So why should it not call for an independent tamil state when the tamil areas had been independent from the rest of Sri Lanka before foreign colonization?”

Just how independent they were is still a matter of some debate, but even if they were, that’s not enough reason for the UN to make the call. If it was, they would have.

“Secondly, my point was that if you call that what happened in Kosovo a Genocide, then you MUST call that what is happening in the NorthEast a Genocide, too.”

Why must I? You’ll have to draw better parallels than what you have for that. But let’s leave aside the much-misused term genocide for the moment and look at ethnic cleansing — there certainly was a policy of it by the Serbs in Kosovo, whereas there isn’t such a policy by the GoSL.

Ok then, but your explanations were wrong! Kosovo was only indirectly part of the short-lived entity called Yugoslavia. Rather, it was an essential part of Serbia for centuries (not a republic of its own like, say, croatia), and still the UN called for its independence… So why should it not call for an independent tamil state when the tamil areas had been independent from the rest of Sri Lanka before foreign colonization?

Secondly, my point was that if you call that what happened in Kosovo a Genocide, then you MUST call that what is happening in the NorthEast a Genocide, too. I am not saying that there was actually one in Kosovo (in fact I doubt that there was one, and I do not think that there is one going on in Sri Lanka right now). Similar things deserve similar names, however.

Not at all. I’m not arguing the factors for Kosovo’s case with the UN, but pointing out why those factors differ from, and are therefore not applicable to, the NE.

“And if there had been a Genocide in Kosovo at the time before the war, then there is definitely one going on right now in Sri Lanka…”

If you think so, then you are unaware of the definition of genocide and ethnic cleanising, which in the former is the murder of an entire ethnic group and in the latter the wholesale or systematic removal of an ethnic group from an area. Neither of this has ever occurred in SL. At least, not by the GoSL, though the LTTE has attempted it with Sinhalese & Muslims in the Northern Province.

David,
you are again twisting the facts to suit your needs

Kosovo was an integral part of Serbia, and that for centuries, and only indirectly part of Yugoslawia (through being a province of Serbia). And if there had been a Genocide in Kosovo at the time before the war, then there is definitely one going on right now in Sri Lanka… Kosova-Albanians actually have a far weaker case for independence than Tamils, both historically and due to current political developments (Kosovo is the heartland of the Serbs and it is an uncontested fact that Albanians were settled there by the Ottomans after the Battle of Amselfeld in 1389)…

The former Jugoslavia was created in the post-WW2 period (much like the former USSR), and so was a short-lived entity. The UN call for a redivision of the territory waas therefore practical, and also justifiable because of the continued systematic ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Kosovo Albanians. Neither of those conditions are true in the NE.

“The LTTE has always been supposedly defeated many many times before…”

True, but you’ll note that I have not claimed that they’ll be defeated anytime soon. Just that they will be weakened to the point that they will be impotent to counter GoSL policy and unable to capture the support of the NE Tamils.

“Setting up more HSZ in Tamil areas.”

Setting up of security zones is quite different from colonisation, whichh entails introduction of a foreign civil populace, subservience of the native populace, harvesting of local natural resources for the colonisers consumption with little or no benefit to the locals, etc. THere is an HSZ in Colombo, for example, but I wouldn’t say that Colombo is being colonised, would you?

“How about the mini-riots in Trinco and Hambantota last year?”

Your question answers itself. They were “mini” both in size and duration, and quickly squashed by the authorities. They in no way aapproached anywhere close to the scale of ’83. There will always be such incidents in 3rd World nations (heck, yoou’ll get ‘em in the US, if you remember the LA riots), but it’s not the incidents that are indicative of change, but the authorities’ handling of it.

“How come the JVP is still popular?”

The JVP will always have a power base in the south that is partly hereditary, and partly a result of incompetent governance by the SLFP. The JVP’s platform isn’t necessarily anti-Tamil, but anti-establishment and pro-worker. Perhaps you’ve heard that when the Tamil lodgers from Pettah were evicted recently, the JVP were one of the parties that protested.

“Sometimes I think that maybe the Tamils should’ve stopped and cooperated with the Indians.”

I think VP made a major strategic mistake when he broke with India, yes. He does not have the strength to bring about the stalemate needed to drag concessions out of the GoSL.

“The LTTE will not stop until either it is obliterated or achieves its given mandate…”

Have you considered that perhaps neither will happen for a long time, and the interim period will see the NE Tamil population decimated for no good end? Can the Tamil diaspora not do something to change this suicidal route?

“No, I’m not talking about a specific offer, but as long as the offer of talks and the disawoving of a military solution is on the table, the UN is not going to call for a separate state (something that they have in any case never done before, except where constitutionally possible).”

What about Kosovo?

“Believe me I’m not being quick in my judgement. I’ve come to this concusion after 25 years of war. I’ve already told you why it will not happen.”

The LTTE has always been supposedly defeated many many times before…

“I’m afraid you are misinformed in this. Do you have any evidence of it?”

Setting up more HSZ in Tamil areas.

“ The reason that there has been no repeat of ‘83 is because successive SL govts since then have realised how counterproductive it was, and the Sinhalese themselves have understood just how wrong it was to do such a thing.”

How about the mini-riots in Trinco and Hambantota last year? How come the JVP is still popular?

“ But since 25 years of war have also failed to produce peace & security for the NE Tamils, a new alternative must be found. Before it’s too late.”

Sometimes I think that maybe the Tamils should’ve stopped and cooperated with the Indians. Sometimes the conflict seems endless…

The LTTE will not stop until either it is obliterated or achieves its given mandate… attempting the latter might cause the former… Once again time will tell…

No, I’m not talking about a specific offer, but as long as the offer of talks and the disawoving of a military solution is on the table, the UN is not going to call for a separate state (something that they have in any case never done before, except where constitutionally possible).

“I wouldn’t pass judgement so quickly.”

Believe me I’m not being quick in my judgement. I’ve come to this concusion after 25 years of war. I’ve already told you why it will not happen.

“How does the Tamil leadership know that if the LTTE is militarily defeated or disarmed that the state wouldn’t continue pursuing its colonization of Tamil areas?”

What Tamil leadership? The LTTE has declared that they are the reppresentatives of the NE Tamils, and unless the Tamils themselves say otherwise en masse, they will continue to hold that slot. As I said before, a militarily victorious GoSL may not be very concilliatory to the NE Tamils, and that is why the LTTE (if they have the best interests of the NE Tamils at heart) must negotiate while they still have some negotiating power. After they are defeated there will be no negotiating.

“Which the Sinhala state is currently doing right in the middle of the undeclared war.”

I’m afraid you are misinformed in this. Do you have any evidence of it?

“How do the Tamils know that the SL won’t allow more riots similar to 1983 now that no military deterrent such as the LTTE exists?”

The fact that there has been no ethnic riots of the scale of ’83 in the last twenty years is that proof. And before you say it’s because of the LTTE, let me tell you that it’s not. The LTTE cannot prevent another ’83, even if they wanted to; and quite the to the contrary they have done their best to spark fresh communal violence by intentionally attacking Sinhalese villages in the border areas and massacring entire communities, or committing attrocities like the Kebbettigollawa bus bombing or the bus bombings in the south earlier this year. The reason that there has been no repeat of ’83 is because successive SL govts since then have realised how counterproductive it was, and the Sinhalese themselves have understood just how wrong it was to do such a thing.

“How do the Tamils know the Sinhala state will just resume the position it held in regards to the Tamils prior to Tamil militancy, that is total indifference to the rights of Tamils and the many other minorities?”

That is why it is incumbent on the LTTE to negotiate for a federal system and while it still can.

“You mean live a life wherein we are second class citizens at the mercy of chauvinist leaders engaged in ethnic bidding. ”

Not at all. I would never suggest such a thing. What I’m suggesting is fedaralism and that the Tamils press the LTTE to start negotiating on that platform. I agree with the reasons that the Tamils took up arms (I myself am from a minority), and I understand that there was no choice since peaceful protests had failed. But since 25 years of war have also failed to produce peace & security for the NE Tamils, a new alternative must be found. Before it’s too late.

“Have you ever heard what some of these populist Sinhalese passed off and continue to pass off for campaign platforms?”

Of course, I live here in SL :)

“Federalism does seem somewhat appealing but I doubt the Sinhalese masses would support it…”

They will if it is explained clearly to them. That is where the UNP and the urban elite have totally failed this country, by being unable to explain to the masses clearly, in their language, what federalism entails. The Sinhalese masses will follow strong leadership, but that leadership needs to have the right vision.

What other offers? Are you talking the proposals released in May??? You have to joking…

“A separate state that the Tamils can never have.”

I wouldn’t pass judgement so quickly.

“The Sinhalese polity will not make significant concessions if the only alternative is continued war; for they have the least to lose from perpetual war.”

How does the Tamil leadership know that if the LTTE is militarily defeated or disarmed that the state wouldn’t continue pursuing its colonization of Tamil areas? Which the Sinhala state is currently doing right in the middle of the undeclared war. How do the Tamils know that the SL won’t allow more riots similar to 1983 now that no military deterrent such as the LTTE exists? How do the Tamils know the Sinhala state will just resume the position it held in regards to the Tamils prior to Tamil militancy, that is total indifference to the rights of Tamils and the many other minorities? The ethnic problem predates Tamil militancy by many decades.

“Isn’t it time the Tamils (NE & Diaspora) woke up and smelled the napalm?”

You mean live a life wherein we are second class citizens at the mercy of chauvinist leaders engaged in ethnic bidding. Have you ever heard what some of these populist Sinhalese passed off and continue to pass off for campaign platforms?

Federalism does seem somewhat appealing but I doubt the Sinhalese masses would support it…

A separate state that the Tamils can never have. The Sinhalese will never give it willingly, the LTTE cannot take it by force, the UN will not call for it while other offers are on the table, and India will not stand for it even if everyone else agreed. So are the Tamils willing to sacrifice many thousands more (for the ridiculous assertion that thousands already have been) on the altar of a dream that is not only unattainable, but unnecessary.

“It is up to the Sinhala polity to make significant concessions, otherwise the war will continue until either the LTTE is obliterated or a separate state is created. Even if the LTTE was to obliterated, Tamil nationalism would stay alive.”

It isn’t upto just the Sinhalese polity. The leadership of both sides must lead their people to a peaceful solution. The people are sheep, they will be led, but the leaders must believe in peace. The Sinhalese polity will not make significant concessions if the only alternative is continued war; for they have the least to lose from perpetual war. It is the Tamils who have the most to suffer. And since the LTTE cannot wrest a separate state from the GoSL, your other conclusion will leave the NE Tamils decimated (for a militarily victorious GoSL will not show much kindness to a defeated Tamil populace) and it will be many generations before the Tamils will even be able to raise their heads. Isn’t it time the Tamils (NE & Diaspora) woke up and smelled the napalm? Your leaders are leading you to your deaths. It’s not too late to change paths.

confused

The LTTE isn’t trading peace for power rather than trading a federal solution not worth the many decades of war and thousands of casualties for a separate state.

It is up to the Sinhala polity to make significant concessions, otherwise the war will continue until either the LTTE is obliterated or a separate state is created. Even if the LTTE was to obliterated, Tamil nationalism would stay alive.

By the way, heard there might be some new developments next week. Keep your ear to the ground. :)