Sri Lanka: One Island, Two Nations

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Sri LankaOne Island, Two Nations

• Presentation for
• Tamil Americans and Friends (TAaF)

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Srilanka-Ilankai (in Tamil) / Lanka (in Sinhala)

• An island located in the Indian ocean, off the
  southeast tip of India
• Three times as larger than the state of New
  Jersey - 25,000 sq miles in area
• Shared History Dates Back to 500BC.
• Sinhala-speaking people - 77,
• Tamil-speaking people - 23

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History

• When Portuguese took possession of the island in
  1505 there were 3 Kingdoms
• Tamil Kingdom in the North-East - Tamil Homeland
  - (yellow)
• Sinhalese Kingdoms in the South-West (grey).

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History
The Cleghorn Minute In 1799 June, Sir Hugh
Cleghorn, the first British Colonial Secretary
wrote to the British Government

Two different nations from a very ancient period
have divided between them the possession of the
Island. First the Sinhalese, inhabiting the
interior of the country in its Southern and
Western parts, and secondly the Malabars (Tamils)
who possess the Northern and Eastern Districts.
These two nations differ entirely in their
religion, language and manners.

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History

• 1505 -1658 Portuguese held the island
• 1658 1796 Dutch usurped control
• 1796 the British took over
• Portuguese and Dutch ruled the Tamil and Sinhala
  Kingdoms separately, but, the British
  artificially joined them for their administrative
  convenience only in 1833.
• On Feb. 4, 1948 - British left the Island leaving
  it as one country, CEYLON, leaving political
  power in the hands of the majority Sinhalese.

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THE PROBLEM
Three Fundamental Elements
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THE PROBLEM First Element

1. Two Historically Feuding Ethnic Groups

• Tamils in the North-East (Yellow)
• Sinhalese in the Central and South-West (Gray)

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THE PROBLEM Second Element

• Two Historically Feuding Ethnic Groups.
• Centralized Unitary Government.Citizens are not
  treated equally Rights of the Tamils
  are violated
• Mistreatment of Tamils 60 years!

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THE PROBLEM Third Element

• Two Historically Feuding Ethnic Groups.
• Centralized Unitary Government.
• Constitutionally entrenched Sinhala Rule.
  SINHALESE COMMAND
• ABSOLUTE POWER
  and, it is PERMANENT!

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THE PROBLEM Mistreatment of Tamils

• 1948 1 million Tamils declared as non-citizens
• 1949 Sinhalese colonization in traditional
  Tamil homeland
• 1956 Sinhala made sole official language of the
  country
• 1970 ethnic standardization slashes
  university admission to Tamils
• same entrance exam, but Tamils need to score 30
  more
• 1972 New constitution without Tamils
  participation
• Unilateral name change from Ceylon to Sri Lanka
• Declaration of Srilanka as a republic
• Buddhism made state religion
• 1977 - Prevention of Terrorism Act
• State-sponsored anti-Tamil violence in 1956,
  1958, 1961, 1974

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TAMIL POLITICAL ACTION
Tamils Response to State Discrimination

• NON-VIOLENCE
• (1948 1976)

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TAMIL POLITICAL ACTION
NON-VIOLENCE
Tamil Political Leaders protested against the
Sinhala only Act, in front of the parliament
(5 June 1956) Sinhalese assaulted the picketers
and the attack spread the whole island.
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TAMIL POLITICAL ACTION
NON-VIOLENCE
School Girls Marching against ethnic based
standardization (1972)
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GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
TAMIL POLITICAL ACTION NON-VIOLENCE

• VIOLENCE
• (Since 1956)

• State Organized Sinhala Thugs
• Repeated Anti-Tamil Pogroms Ethnic cleansing
• Government Security Forces
• killing Tamils with impunity99 of the Armed
  Forces are Sinhalese

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Systematic Genocide of Tamils1956.. 1958..
1961.. 1974.. 1977.. 1979.. 1981.. 1983.. .. 2008
Anti-Tamil Pogrom 1983 Government sponsored
Sinhala Thugs tortured a Tamil Man, then poured
gasoline on him and burnt him alive(July 1983)
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TURNING POINT - 1976
TAMIL POLITICAL ACTION NON-VIOLENCE
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE VIOLENCE
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TURNING POINT - 1976

• Resolution for Independence Vaddukoddai
  Resolution
• 30 year struggle for equality denied.
• multiple pacts for regional autonomy not
  honored.
• non-violent agitations by Tamils met by State
  violence
• The Elected Tamil Political Leaders convened and
  resolved to restore Tamil Sovereignty by
  declaring an Independent Tamil state in the
  North-East of Sri Lanka.
• 1977 Election Tamils ratify the call for
  independence by 82 popular vote
• Tamil Legislators thrown out of parliament by the
  government.
• Tamil Armed Rebellion takes hold Lead by the
  Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
• 1983 State Sponsored Anti-Tamil Pogrom

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Thimpu Talks Declaration July 13th
1985Mediated by Indian government failed

• Statement by the Tamil Delegation (Elected and
  Rebel)
• Any meaningful solution to the Tamil national
  question must be based on the following four
  cardinal principles
• Recognition of Tamils as a Distinct Nation.
• Recognition of the Tamil Homeland and its
  Territorial Integrity.
• Recognition of the right of Tamil National
  Self-Determination.
• Recognition of the Right to Citizenship of all
  Tamils.

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1983 - 2002

• Entire Tamil Nation rallied behind LTTE and
  carry out armed struggle for independence.
• 75,000 civilians died 97 of them were Tamils,
  killed by the Sri Lankan armed forces.
• Tamils sacrifice 18,000 youths to achieve parity
  of status with Sri Lanka.
• LTTE becomes a formidable Tamil military force
  and the sole-representatives of the Tamil people,
  gains control of significant areas of the North-
  East, and establishes civil administration
  services.

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TAMIL NATIONAL MILITARY(LTTE)
Today, a Conventional Tamil Armed Force. (Ground
Forces, Naval Force, Air Force, Police,
Intelligence Service)
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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING2002

• Ceasefire
• Monitored by Scandinavian Countries
• (Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission - SLMM)

Direct Dialogue Facilitated By the Royal
Norwegian Government
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CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT Signed by the SL Government
and the LTTE on 22 February 2002

• forward defence localities (borders) have been
  established, the Sri Lankan armed forces and the
  Liberation Tigers fighting formations shall
  hold their ground positions
• Neither Party shall engage in any offensive
  military operation nor shall move munitions,
  explosives or military equipment into the area
  controlled by the other Party.

LTTE Northern Com. Col. Theepan SL Northern
Com. Maj. Gen. Fonseka at the northern FDL
February 2002

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THE OSLO DECLARATIONSigned by the SLG and the
LTTE on 25 November 2002
In the presence of US Deputy Sec. of State Mr.
Richard Armitage, Norwegian Foreign Minister Mr.
Jan Petersen, UK Sec. of State Ms. Claire short,
Japan Special Envoy Mr.Yasusi Akashi

• the parties have agreed to explore a political
  solution founded on the principle of internal
  self-determination in areas of historical
  habitation of the Tamil-speaking people, based on
  a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka.

LTTEs Dr. Anton Balasingham,SLGs Prof.
G.L.eiris,at the Oslo Conference, 25 November

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BROKEN AGREEMENTS

• Within 3 years 2002-2005
• Dissolving High Security Zones Withdrawing
  military from Houses, School, Worshiping places
  (February 2002)
• Sub-Committee for Immediate Humanitarian and
  Rehabilitation Needs in the North and East
  (SIHRN) (February 2002)
• North East Reconstruction Fund (NERF) (November
  2002)
• Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) (31
  October 2003)
• Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure
  (PTOMS) (June 2005)

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November 2005Election of President Rajapakse

• Campaign promises
• No recognition of Tamil Homeland or right to
  Self-Rule.
• No to Federal Solution
• No to International Mediation

Rajapaksa was elected as President by the
Majority of Sinhala people.
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November 2005Election of President Rajapakse
Supported by Extremist Buddhist Monks Party
(JHU), view Srilanka as a Sinhala-Buddhist
nation, Burning Norway Flag
Associated Press Photo November 2005
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After the Election of President Rajapakse
ESCALATION OF VIOLENCEby the SL Armed Forces and
Government sponsored Paramilitary.

• 47 humanitarian workers were kidnapped and
  killed.
• 5 Tamil Parliamentarians were assassinated.
• Many leading Tamil Journalists were murdered.
• Hundreds of Tamils were abducted for ransom
  killed.
• 17 Humanitarian Workers of a French NGO
  (AFC)Murdered by SL Army in an execution style
  on 5 August 2006

Chief of the Ceasefire Monitoring mission Maj.
Gen. Ulf Henricsson told "I have experienced
this in the Balkans before. When you're not let
in, it's a sign that there's something they want
to hide". Reuters 12 Aug 2006
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Violence after Election of President
Rajapakse Targeted Killing of Tamil Civilians
Mother raped and killed. Children brutalized and
Hanged. Father forced to see all these, and shot
dead. (Venkalai, 9 June 2006)
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• Violence after Election of President Rajapakse
• Targeted Killing of Tamil Civilians

• Sri Lankan jets bombed a children's home in
  Mullaithivu
• 67 schoolgirls and 7 teachers were killed
• 129 were wounded when
• (14 August 2006)

A Government minister acknowledged it, and
argued, There is nothing wrong in killing
future child soldiers.
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After Election of President Rajapakse Current
Situation

• SL government de-merged the Tamil Homeland.
  (North-East)
• Sri Lanka government officially unilaterally
  abrogated Ceasefire Agreement from January 16,
  2008
• Sri Lanka government is intensifying a full scale
  war on the Tamil Homeland to impose Military
  Solution calling it as War on Terror
• No credible political solution is under
  discussion by SL government.
• Tamil civilians being targeted Disappearances,
  Daily aerial bombings, Road-side bombs,
  Shelling, Extra-judicial killing.
• Over 5000 Tamils have been killed since election
  .
• Average of 7 Tamils killed daily

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US Foreign Policy Role Toward Sri Lanka and
Tamils
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US Policy Role

• In 1996 Sri Lanka influenced US to designate LTTE
  as FTO.
• In the post 9/11 scenario US sort partners for
  War on Terror.
• SL depicted the Tamil armed struggle as acts of
  Terrorism.
• SL declared its human rights violations as
  inevitable occurrences in the War on Terror.
• US promotes democracy and freedom, and
  acknowledges Tamils legitimate aspirations for
  freedom.
• In 2004 elections, the Tamil National Alliance
  (TNA) accepted the LTTE as the National
  Leadership of the Tamils, and won 97 of Tamils
  votes.
• However, since LTTE is in its FTO list, US is in
  a paradox that it is unable to treat both parties
  equally and help Tamils achieve their legitimate
  aspirations for freedom.

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The USA had placed LTTE on the FTO list
R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary for Political
Affairs, (Colombo, Sri Lanka - January 23,
2006) We brand LTTE as terrorist organization
for using violence as a political weapon. But
the Tamil population has legitimate grievances,
and they must be respected by the majority
population, and there has to be a way for the
Tamils to be able to articulate those grievances.
I must say that this long conflict is only
going to come to an end when the LTTE and the
government sit down and find a way forward to end
this conflict.


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US ROLE

• Military Assistance to SL Army
• Stop It
• Financial Aid to SL Government
• Monitor it
• Public Statements
• Be fair to both nation
• Diplomacy
• Treat both parties Equally

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US CONGRESS

• Rep. Frank Pallone On Autonomy of Tamils
• I echo this sentiment and support a solution
  that grants a level of autonomy to ethnic
  minorities like the Tamils. We have seen very
  similar successful situations throughout the
  world. Places like Quebec in Canada, Wales and
  Scotland in Great Britain are all part of their
  Federal Nations but have significant autonomy.
  (September 2006)
• Rep. Rush Holt On Human Rights Violations
  Against Tamils
• I urge US Secretary of State Dr. Rice to appoint
  a special envoy to emphasize US's commitment to
  peace in Sri Lanka and to include in the envoy's
  mandate efforts to increase monitoring of human
  rights violations," (September 2006)

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US GOVERNMENT

• Mr. Richard Boucher
• Assistant US Secretary of State
• Colombo 26 June 2006
• Though we reject the methods that the Tamil
  Tigers have used, there are legitimate issues
  raised by the Tamil community and they have a
  very legitimate desire, as anybody would, to
  control their own lives, to rule their own
  destinies, and to govern themselves in their
  homeland, in the areas theyve traditionally
  inhabited.
• -

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US GOVERNMENT

• Richard L. Armitage
• Deputy Secretary of State
• December, 2002
• the United States is greatly encouraged that
  the LTTE has made a commitment to the political
  solution and has agreed to settle this conflict
  through peaceful means...
• the United States government is also encouraged
  by the vision of the LTTE as a genuine political
  entity. If the LTTE can make a convincing case
  that it is committed to a political solution, the
  United States will certainly consider removing
  the LTTE from the list of Foreign Terrorist
  Organizations, as well as any other
  terrorism-related...
• A US LTTE direct contact is worth Trying.

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EU followed US and placed LTTE on the FTO list

• Maj. Gen. Ulf Henricsson
• Chief of the Ceasefire Monitoring Mission.
• Reuters 12 Aug 2006
• EU can't say they didn't know or at least have
  any signal about what could happen, I think the
  EU thought that the government of Sri Lanka was a
  responsible government, who could take the
  appropriate decision and work for peace instead
  of war...
• I would say, EUs decision to ban the LTTE is a
  mistake, it was a wrong decision, because the
  LTTE and the government have signed the ceasefire
  agreement as equal partners.

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US DIPLOMAT

• Teresita C. Schaffer
• Former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka
• (June 2005)
• The United States designation of the LTTE a
  Foreign Terrorist Organization has affected
  U.S. diplomacy in Sri Lanka
• The effect of U.S. terrorism law and of the
  terrorist organization list has been a problem
  for U.S. diplomacy, and one that has not always
  been wisely handled.

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US CONGRESS

• Rep. Brad Sherman
• March 15, 2006
• Ive urged the State Department to design a road
  map for the Tamil Tigers, so that they would know
  what steps they would need to take to get off the
  terrorist list
• What is the difference between terrorism on the
  one hand, and waging a legitimate guerrilla
  struggle on the other?..
• Seeking some degree of autonomy for North-East
  Sri Lanka is not a terrible objective.

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US DIPLOMAT

• Jeffrey Lunstead
• Former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka
• May 2007
• Direct US-LTTE links would have helped in
  convincing the LTTE to move away from terrorism
• direct communication with the LTTE would have
  had concrete benefits including the ability to
  deliver a clear U.S. message about possible
  delisting of the LTTE as an FTO (Foreign
  Terrorist Organization)

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60 Years... The result

• More than 100,000 Tamils Killed and Disappeared
• More than 20,000 Tamil orphaned children
• More than 35,000 Tamil widows
• Hundreds of Thousands of schools, houses,
  hospitals, churches, temples, villages and
  livelihood destroyed.
• More than 600,000 Tamils Internal Refugees
• Nearly 1 Million Tamils made to flee the country

If this is not ETHNIC CLEANSING, then what is?
Fighting for Survival is NOT Terrorism
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A Struggle for Freedom NOT Terrorism

• Two Ethnic Nations, separated by
• History, Language, Culture, Economic Life,
  Territorial Homeland.
• A Tamil Conventional Military fighting the Sri
  Lankan Military.
• Defense against genocide of Tamils
• A large enough Tamil Territory
• Defensible and sustainable for self governance
• Roughly the same size as Israel or Kuwait or
  Slovenia.
• Bigger in area (19,509 sq. km.) than at least 41
  countries in the UN (including Singapore)
• A De facto Tamil Government
• Police, Judicial, Finance, Economic-Developments,e
  tc, in existence.
• Bigger in population (3.6 million in 1979 - )
  than at least 59 countries in the UN

A Struggle for Freedom NOT Terrorism
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The Future

• If the Sri Lanka government does not accept
  Tamil Homeland, Tamil Nationhood and Tamil
  self-rule, the basic and cardinal principles,
  that have been guiding the Tamils in their
  struggle to find a peacefully-negotiated
  political arrangementand
• If the Sri Lankan government not willing to share
  power with the Tamils under a Con-Federal system
  or some form of a two-state solution
• Tamils will be forced to continue their struggle
  for their National Self-Determination and a
  Separate State.

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Kosovo Tamil Eelam
What is good for Kosovo is good for Tamil Eelam
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What the Tamil Americans expect from
theGovernment of the United States

• Play a leadership role to find a political
  solution to the legitimate aspirations of the
  Tamil People.
• Remove the LTTE from the Foreign Terrorist
  Organizations list, and Treat both parties
  equally.
• Recognize the Tamil National Self Determination.
• Permit Tamil people to choose their destiny in
  internationally supervised plebiscite.
• Facilitate the birth of the Tamil Nation, Tamil
  Eelam

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Thank You!