What about the chauvinism directed at Tamils?

Social leader Thomas Kochery in his Saranapala felicitation speech (Saranapala, a leading trade unionist was felicitated for his contribution of over forty years to trade unionism) said:

“We are living in a civilised world. We have to learn the art of bringing peace into the world by removing violence. Terrorism is at our very doorstep and all over the world. Now the question is, are we interested in stopping all kinds of terrorism and violence? Are we honest with this question? There are three types of violence in society.
  1. The first is structural violence. Globalisation and the capitalistic mode of production are helping a few to become richer and richer at the expense of the vast majority who do not have the basic needs of life. This system survives because of the police and the army. Private property rights itself is structural violence of the highest order. The life of the planet and the dependent health of humanity should not be sacrificed by the greed of a few. This is the worst kind of terrorism that exists. At one time education was meant for all, but now it has become a money-making racket for the middle and upper class, forgetting the dalits and the tribals.
  2. When they are oppressed, the victims of such violence react, resulting in insurgencies, violence or terrorism. Normally the ruling class considers only this and has branded this type of violence as terrorism. The LTTE is a terrorist organisation. The 9/11 attack in the USA was considered terrorism. All series of bomb blasts are considered acts of terrorism. Naxalites, Maoists are all terrorists of a kind.
  3. When the state wants to put down terrorism, we find war breaking out in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine. All over the world we find violence and terrorism. Unless we put an end to structural violence we will never be able to stop violence. 
All types of violence could be considered as acts of terrorism. We have to seek social justice in the world, only then can we begin peace making.”

There is an element of truth in what this social leader says.

Mahinda is involved in a certain kind of terrorism, but he has forgotten to counter Sinhala chauvinism directed at the Tamil people through systematic murder, hideous rapes and other violence against women, brutal disappearances, plundering of assets and the cruelty of open discrimination. Self rule has been proposed as the structural change necessary to arrest the situation. Without giving any serious attention to the need for devolution of power, Mahinda is continuing his war for the conquest of Kilinochchi.

The whole project is a farce considering his ridiculous claim that he is doing it to save the country from foreign aggression. This was the theme of his speech at the Kotalawela Military Academy and several other recent speeches made by him. Who is this aggressor? America? India? Perhaps China? This cannot be because in the last era, until now, all these leaders helped Mahinda’s liberation war, not only with money and arms but also with fighting men.

We do not see any invaders in the North but instead see the armed rebellion of Tamil people full of hatred against discrimination and brutal oppression. Can he stop this cycle of terrorism by conquering the rebel held town of Kilinochchi using superior modern terrorism?

Before taking on Tamil terrorism there should be at least the minimum structural adjustment to rectify the inherent violence in the system against the Tamil speaking people. Once such adjustments are made, or at least announced as a serious proposal, the rulers will then be in a position to appeal to the conscience of the Tamil people to arrive at a cessation of violence. Otherwise, as far as the Tamil people are concerned, it is a struggle to the end or a humiliating surrender.

While taking such a harsh attitude against the Tamil national problem, Mahinda is seeking the support of the working class by granting several economic demands. Bank workers are promised full pension rights, teachers have been promised the removal of salary anomalies, government workers an allowance of Rs 2500, Rs 50 billion for railway adjustments, etc, etc. Let us see what happens in the days to come.