A letter from Sri Lanka. TNA-Member of Parliament Sivasakthy Ananthan exklusiv für Sri Lanka Advocacy (engl.)

Nach der vollständigen Vernichtung der LTTE-Rebellen ist die Frage nach einer authentischen politischen Artikulation der tamilischen Minderheit dringlicher denn je. Formell stärkste politische Kraft ist die Tamil National Alliance (TNA), ein Zusammenschluss mehrerer unabhängiger tamilischer Parteien, der bis zum Ende des Kriegs stets auch in Kontakt mit der LTTE stand. Zu den Mitgliedsorganisationen der Allianz gehört die einstmals bewaffnet kämpfende Eelam People’s Revolutionary Libertation Front (EPRLF). Als Mitglied ihres Zentralkomittees vertritt Natesu Sivasakthy Ananthan den Bezirk Vavuniya im srilankischen Parlament. Sein Brief an Sri Lanka Advocacy gibt einen eindringlichen Überblick über die Lage vor Ort.

Dear friends and colleagues,

I hope that you might know the happenings in the North and the East. The things are worse than ever. The Government forcibly vacated the people from their land and put them in the tents at Cheddikulam. Three to four districts people were kept in one particular area where the place is not suitable for living. Their livelihood rights were denied. Near about 300,000 people were taken like this and kept in Cheddikulam for more than one year. Due to the pressure from the International community and from the UN especially from the Europe Union and India the Government has no other option other than allow the people to go their home land. But this seems just eyewash.  There was no infrastructure made for the people to stay. The tents have been changed from one place to another; the people lived in a large scale at Cheddikulam but they are living scattered in their own lands. Almost all the school buildings were damaged partly or fully. There is no roof on the houses. Our people abandoned just like wild animals in their areas without providing any assistance for their livelihood, medical aid, transport facility apart from all these there is no civil administration at all. The civil administration is only in the name sake. But the defense personnel are the real administrators. The land owned by the people is denied to them in some areas. The Government is saying Security need is first other things are rest. And the same Government is saying that it curtailed the terrorism. If it is true for what purpose the Government is taking this much of peoples’ land? This remains unanswered.

From October we have to face the monsoon rain. This will be good for the agrarian’s one side and on the other side it will be bad for the people who left helpless in their areas. Even the school roofs have been looted; the people are going to face severe problem for their shelter. They can’t take any shelter in the schools or any Govt. offices. It may lead them for another displacement. Apart from that the children are going to affect severely. Already the dengue is a major threat throughout the country and the forthcoming monsoon rain may bring a lot of diseases as there is no proper drainage and proper water management system in the resettled areas.

I personally visited the resettled areas and listened their grievances. The school children don’t have their shoes, ties and other embellishments. The tents won’t withstand for the wind, there is no other places for the people to go. I spoke regarding this in Parliament and still the Government does not take any action in relation with this.

The Government does not allow the NGOs to do their services. If it happens the things will develop fast. Our farmers left with empty hands and they are unable to continue their cultivation. The major economy resource of our people in Vanni is fishing. Vanni is almost covered by tanks, so the tank fishing is the most revenue resource of our people. It is denied for our people and It has been supplemented by the Sinhalese. All the temples in the North and the East were damaged. The Government is saying orally that all the temples will be renovated but new Viharas were constructed in our areas by abandoning the other worship places. Our cultures are also under question.

In this juncture the Govt. should take appropriate steps to construct the schools, safety measures to be taken for the resettled people to overcome the rainy season. Proper medical facilities, transport facilities are to be made in the resettled areas. Permanent houses to be constructed for our people; our people lived with respect in their areas which has denied now. They lived in well built houses; now they are living in tents and praying for no rain and wind. They hosted many people during the violence took place in other parts of this country are now depending the World Food Programme’s vehicle.

They enjoyed their life; now they are counting their days. These things have to be changed. People like you should come forward to raise your voice how this government is betraying its own people. Whatever we can do we are doing. We are raising our voice in and outside the Parliament. It is not enough. The Sinhala polity never listen the voice of Tamil politicians in any manner. 

This war made more than 50,000 young widows; their future is under question. More than 35,000 were left disabled. More than 50,000 people were lost their lives. Proper compensation has to be given to them. The compensations are made then there for the Sinhalese. Lot of vehicles left abandoned at Mullivaikkal of Mullaithivu district. People are not allowed to go there. But the spares of those vehicles have been taken away by somebody. Daily 20 to 30 vehicles are being taken away to the South. Some vehicles exhibited in Kilinochchi for identification is eyewash. Those vehicles are almost in scrap condition.

The Government should take the responsibility to return the vehicles to the owners and pay compensation for the damaged vehicles.  High security zone to be abolished and the people of that area should allow to live in their homes and to attend their day today life.

The Government took away the lands of the Thirumurukandy, Indhupuram and Santhapuram people for security purposes the people of that area are not allowed to go to their lands. Near about 4000acres of land have been taken in this area.

The Murugandy Vinayakar temple is the pilgrimage centre for the Tamils. Our people worship this temple while to enter and exit for Jaffna. The Government has given permission to a Sinhalese to construct a hotel in that area. Being a pilgrimage spot we never build any hotel in that area which may threat to our culture. By allowing building a hotel now, the Government is neglecting the aspirations and faith of our people.

The North and the East are becoming the Sinhala state and the Tamil people who are majority in our area are in danger as we may be assimilated with Sinhala polity.

The International community, who helped this Government to abolish the terrorism, has to give assurances to solve the ethnic problem as well. They should give more pressure and to make this Government to go for an amicable political solution.

The North-East to be remerged and it should be recognized as Home land for Tamils. Proper autonomy should be given with the real meaning.

In the past the Democrats of Southern politicians and the left parties have recognized the right of self determination. But now they are also in a fear, if they raise the same voice their survival will be questioned. In the past the JVP was a threat for the democrats and the leftists, but now the threat is coming from the other end. So they are not in a position to raise their voices. But it should come from them first. But unfortunately as I mentioned earlier this has not taken place. Their voices have been muted by their own community and for their own political surveillance; they are unable to raise their real voice. But still we are maintaining the relations with them.

Now we are having dialogue with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress also to resolve the ethnic issue. Very soon, we may be able to form an alliance to address our people’s issues and for the nationality question.

In connection with the rehabilitation of the former fighters, there should be providing technical training in production and proper market to be arranged for them to sell. Because they were trained in various fields apart from arms, their skills need to be identified and give rehabilitation according to that. But the Government is using them only for deforestation; this won’t serve the purpose.

Greetings,

Natesu Sivasakthy Ananthan