What point are you arguing now? I’m really not following.

I’m sure the Tamils who lived in the north and east would have loved to have the choice to stay, but they didn’t.

What would MIrax and Ananthan say to the Tamils in the upcountry and non-conflict areas in SL? They’ve not left or been killed, have they? I’m sure some of them are in SL out of choice.

I also remember the LTTE blocking the census from taking in parts of the NE, fearing that the decline in population would detract from their bid for a separate state. If you find the data, I’m sure it’ll be incomplete. That’s why I don’t believe the proportion has dropped quite so much.

I hold no brief for the LTTE, but your argument and your turnarounds suck.

I also remember the LTTE blocking the census from taking in parts of the NE, fearing that the decline in population would detract from their bid for a separate state. If you find the data, I’m sure it’ll be incomplete. That’s why I don’t believe the proportion has dropped quite so much.

Go figure.

And if that isnt ethnic cleansing (of an entire nation), i dont know what is.

I agree wholeheatedly. During that period Sri Lankan Tamils had to hide thier Tamil sounding surnames in order to avoid discrimination and glare.

Hmmn, having met members of the Srilankan tamil diaspora in Australia, Canada,the UK and Singapore, this rings so true!

Sajini, the Tamil ‘revolt’ did not come about as a result of being a minority that was economically or socially disenfranchised. Jaffna tamils were a privileged minority in terms of educational and economic attainments from colonial times (as opposed to the poor Indian tamils toiling away in the tea plantations, many of whom were/are stateless).It was deliberately divisive ’singhalisation’ policy in the 60’s/70’s rather than the marginalisation of Tamil (and English) which led to protests initially by the middle-class Tamils.

SL Tamils of the jaffna variety are a prickly lot when it comes to self identity. They have always held themselves aloof from other Tamil migrants from India in Malaysia/Singapore despite being nearly identical culturally, racially, linguistically etc Their superior attitude towards others made them rather easy targets for ridicule.

Another thing about the SL Tamil diaspora- they tend to be the biggest supporters of the LTTE. A lot of the LTTE funds come from them middle-class types overseas, and given that the LTTE has ruthlessly murdered off all moderate Tamil opponents in Srilanka itself, the chances of the remnants of the Tamil population rising up successfully against the Tigers is next to zero. They know they don’t stand a chance and for what ideal should they annihilate themselves?

I agree, the only people who can get rid of the LTTE are the tamil people themselves, sooner than later they will get fed up of being bullied around, donating their property and their young children to the cause &etc. After quarter of a century of fighting I wonder if the LTTE are really willing to negotiate any sort of agreement or do they just intend to keep on fighting as that’s the only thing they know; by demanding a situation that will never be accepted by the majority they ensure that will be the case.

I have met quite a few sinhalese here in Britain who fuel this war for their nationalist nostalgia at absolutely no physical and emotional cost to themselves. How grimly delighted they were sitting in living rooms of Catford, Romford and Croydon when the tsunami claimed more than a proportional share of tamil Sri Lankan lives. I have also met succesful, educated and thoroughly British (born & raised in the suburbs of Greater London, & some never been to SL) young tamil men at weddings and parties who claim how things were so much better for ‘them’ under the British. This is what 25 years of war does – makes us all bigots and racists, less human.

I would call upon the peace-loving, hard-working tamil brothers and sisters to rise up and send these murderers down the same route the JVP murderers went.There will then be peace in the north. I cannot see how one million tamils can live peacefully next to the others in the south, given the discrimination and daily harrassment the LTTE claim they experience.

I am proud to tell the Tigers that their people will be happier to live in the south than living under Pol Pot’s regime. I hope with the new president we elected that in the near future, I will be able to come with my Tamil friends to have crab curry and thosai on the kilinochi beach.

Now in Pakistan there is another crisis looming with Mohajirs demanding more recognition for Urdu in Sindh and the Sindh Government’s constant refusal. Mohajirs allege discrimination and Sindhis blame Punjabis for relocating Mohajirs to Sindh during partition instead of the much larger state Punjab.

You must be joking !! Remember how East Pakistan went up in flames over Urdu Vs. Bengali debate.

Bluey – I don’t see how recognising a language alone is going to make all the difference. Those are superficial changes that politicians love but don’t really effect the ordinary people.

The hypocrisy is like, just SO awesome man….

But technicalities aside Im all for the peace process – we failed to fight them when we had the chance, now we have to eat humble pie and negotiate.
The new president isnt really a hardliner the way most people think, the JVP will tow a hard line but heck they know plenty about insurgencies themselves

Mr Rajapakse aint so bad really…almost everyone (save for the arms dealers) want peace – its just how much you give and take.
Most people talk about the peace process in glowing terms. They fail to realise that it involves a sizeable chunk of a country that isnt particularily big.
You dont just split nations up.

Having just watched ‘Song of Ceylon’ I can only imagine that things wont change very much – for better or for worse…the wheels in SL will just keep turning as theyve always done.