- FEBRUARY 9, 2010
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Diaspora of doom
Posted By Nirmala Rajasingam
Friday, May 15, 2009 - 3:40 PM
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How expats are fueling a bloodbath in Sri Lanka.
By Nirmala Rajasingam
Since April 2009, hundreds of Tamil expatriates have been protesting the recent escalation of fighting in Sri Lanka in unprecedented numbers across the world's capitals. Demonstrators filled a Toronto park on May 13, and 100 Tamils marched outside the White House this week. In Britain, at least 500 Tamils held a sit-in protest outside of Parliament.
Yet the demonstrators are almost exclusively Tamil; there are no faces from the local host communities or the other Sri Lankan ethnicities at the demonstrations. Why has the situation in Sri Lanka failed to attract wider concern?
Certainly, there is an ongoing humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions in Sri Lanka today. More than 50,000 Tamil civilians are trapped between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), popularly known as the Tamil Tigers. While the government has shelled civilian areas, the LTTE has used those same civilians as human shields. Hundreds are dying and countless more are injured without medical assistance.
The government of Sri Lanka refuses to accept the extensive humanitarian assistance offered by the international community, and has refused a temporary cease-fire that could allow the trapped civilians to safely exit the combat zone. This is a war that the Sri Lankan state has fought against the Tamil Tiger rebels over two decades -- one it never thought it could win. Now, with a possible end in sight, even a temporary pause is out of the question. Despite international condemnation, the government shows little sign of budging.
But if the government garners little sympathy these days, the Tamil Tigers evoke even less. For 20 years, the Tigers have positioned themselves as the sole representative of the Tamil people, an ethnic group in north east Sri Lanka that was marginalized by a Sinhala nationalist majoritarian state in post-colonial times. As they tell it, the Tigers are brave rebels fighting for national liberation. In reality, the LTTE uses suicide bombs, civilian shields, and assassination to win political and territorial turf.
The LTTE, despite its decreasing popularity with Tamils within Sri Lanka, has been able to survive this long owing to one thing: the unquestioning support of the global Tamil diaspora. For more than two decades, the pro-Tiger diaspora has fueled the conflict in Sri Lanka, raising funds for the insurgents through coercion and threats. The LTTE gradually brought under its aegis most Tamil businesses and cultural organizations, sealing its control over community life in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Britain. Influential nationalists have carefully developed this pliant support base. Thus, it was easy to mobilise thousands of protestors for prolonged periods of time on the Tigers' behalf.
This is precisely why others have been loath to join in the protests throughout the Western world. The Tamil diaspora community is isolated by its own nationalism. Co-opted by the LTTE, it has made no contribution to peace. While the ravages of war encouraged Tamils in Sri Lanka to rethink the LTTE's secessionist project, the diaspora embraced it even more firmly, not having been affected by the collateral damage of that war directly.
Unfortunately, the international community bought into the notion that the LTTE represented the Tamils for years. During the last cease-fire agreement signed in 2002, negotiators -- hesitant to risk a new outbreak of violence -- were silent as the Tigers brutally repressed Tamil dissent and alternative leadership. If the LTTE are indeed crushed, as the government promises, there will be a political vacuum at the helm of the Tamil community. Searching for someone to fill the void, Western policymakers have turned to the pro-secession representatives of the diaspora. Hence, the government, which does not hesitate to conflate Tamil civilians with the LTTE, has cynically presented international mediation efforts as tantamount to support for the Tigers. The government sells this case to the majority Sinhala community -- whose support it needs for the war. And when it looks to China, India, and Iran for support, it can claim to be standing up to the bullying tactics of the ex-colonial, neo-imperial powers.
As Sri Lanka's humanitarian crisis unfolds, the international community must make its message clear and forthright. The Tigers and the diaspora that supports them have no claim as the "sole representation" of the Tamil people. Nor is secession a reasonable option. Anything more superficial than this firm engagement will play into the hands of the LTTE lobby in the West -- and inflame Sinhala nationalists in Sri Lanka. Only this firm message will serve the cause of peace and democracy.
Nirmala Rajasingam is a Sri Lankan Tamil activist who lives in exile in London. She is a member of the steering committee of the Sri Lanka Democracy Forum (SLDF).
Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images
You cannot confirm that the LTTE has been keeping the civilians as human shields willingly. I have heard that these people move with the LTTE for protection for it would be worse to be taken by government forces and be put in concentration camps where they can possibly be abused or murdered anyway. Right now, there is NO ONE representing the well being of Tamils but the LTTE and diaspora itself. What? the government wants to keep these people from harms way ? That's a load of bs, the government is dropping shells on the civilians which clearly shows that they don't care for the Tamil population.
LTTE are not angels either. They have made some awful choices however, look at the super powers today ? Are they officially terrorists ? They don't play by the rules. Because in real war, there are no rules. Even so the LTTE are ready for a cease-fire and willing to talk peace. This article is clearly a biased one since you fail to balance out both parties wrong and good deeds. It seems you are not only trying to deface the LTTE entirely but also the people.
There is no one representing the well being of Tamils because the LTTE killed all of them - from Neelan Thiruchelvam to Kadirgamar etc. But despite this, Tamil political parties exist in Sri Lanka (yes! Contrary to the argument of genocide!) such as the TNA and TULF. Unfortunately, the LTTE killed the talent in the Tamil polity.
The diaspora are out of touch with the reality on the ground here in Sri Lanka. Most have not even set foot inside Sri Lanka during the past 20 years, so I don't see how they can legitimately claim that a genocide is going on. The LTTE held us back for 26 years - pls stop supporting them if you really care about Sri Lankan Tamils.
Oh and the last time there was a pause in fighting, the LTTE didnt let any civilians free. So what is the point in pausing the fighting? And the last time there was a ceasefire, although the Govt violated the CFA, the LTTE violated it 7 times more.
As a Sri Lankan Tamil, I say good riddance to them. Hopefully we can all move forward now, as one people.
I hear that the BBC is reliant on info not just from the Tamil diaspora in London but also from the likes of Oxfam, who have an interest in over-egging the pudding so to speak and over-stating the humanitarian disaster in the north. Oxfam has an army of press officers and media advisers in its Oxford HQ who have nothing better to do but to brief the BBC and other journalists, and another army of policy advisers who brief DFID and 10 Downing Street. Is it any surprise information that the info received by UK Government from British NGOs like Oxfam is blatantly political and ant-Sinhala, and would appear to be designed specifically to stop the Government of Sri Lanka from defeating the LTTE? I urge British NGOs working in Sri Lanka to behave responsibly, and not be the stooges of the UK Government, and prisoners of their own vested interests.
I'm curious about the relations between the Tamils of India and those on Sri Lanka. Are the Indian Tamils supportive of their kin on Sri Lanka?
Deception at it's best played by Sri Lanka to seize the opportunity to fight this war for votes from the mass that believes Tamils do not have a place in Sri Lanka. Now shows the world that the loudest/vicious lier gets the stage and the minority around the world has to get alert about this. Tamil survival in Sri Lanka threatened ever since the independence snow balled in to the state of the LTTE to this day. No good blaming them instead Sri Lanka had every opportunity to fix the Tamil concern but decided to neglect it for long depriving the minority in every way possible. Now, the Tamils are under threat, gagged and reduced as a lesser human by the Buddhist extremist seems to be doing a good job of it in the world stage. Truth died with this war unless the IC fix the terribly unfair situation right now in Sri Lanka after this War without Witness. Nirmala seems to be biased, hindsight is wonderful keep going....if that consoles you as a Tamil. What ever that works!!!!
Freedom Struggle did not start with LTTE
I am surprised to read this article. I thought Nirmala was well informed about the struggle of Tamil people for Freedom. It started soon after independence. Sinhala racist leaders systematically suppressed Tamils and LTTE became the prominent armed group to fight back. She might have forgotten the non-violent struggle by the True Tamil leaders. Now she became the mouth piece of the Sri Lankan Sinhala leaders. If you are going to write about Tamil people's struggle, you should write about Sinhala racist leaders' agenda on Tamil people well before LTTE was in the picture. I am sure Tamil Diaspora will continue to fight for the Freedom of Tamil people in Eelam, in every country within the laws permitted. Just for the record, Sinhala thugs killed many true Tamil leaders, such as Joeseph Pararajasingam, Kumar Ponnampalam etc etc.
Just having a Tamil name will NOT make anyone a Tamil Leader.
Freedom struggle did not start with LTTE and will NOT end with LTTE.
Systamatic ethnic cleansing and slow Genocide
Sri Lankan Govt did many crime against humanity.many Mass murders,Jail massacres,Anti Tamil programs,Anti JVP program,Burning Tamil cultural center,Aid workers massacre, journalists murders and the list is long and continuing with genocidal proportion to War crime.So far nobody brought to the law book of Sri lanka.
This severe culture of impunity is created the LTTE it was armed by India and sri lanka several times.LTTE's cause isn't wrong their few methods are wrong.The
Main culprit is the Govt showed deaf year to Tamil question and dragged their feet for 30 years nefariously did the ethnic cleansing to win the Tamil's political struggle instead of creating a credible peace.The situation really look like, you drunk and beat your wife severely and broken her teeth and bones and delighted to keep the marriage forcefully, and want to make love with her while she was bleeding and don't have any moral feeling at all.
It is the other way around, The geopolitical interested Chinese arms and India's logistic support fuelled the Govt to a vicious militaristic approach to the War rather than political one in Sri Lanka. Biased UN officers also helped the Govt to do the War Crime without witness.
Its really funny abt what the Pro LTTE and the tamil Diaspora has to say and will be keep on saying. I understand the loss of your terrorist leader, but he was the curse to humanity in Sri Lanka. If you had a freedom struggle you should hve continued in the right non violent ways. But this murderer Prabhakran himself started the trend of killing people when he started off with the killing of the tamil governor in Jaffna with his own hands with a revolver. And that is how this murderer who took upto arms died like a dog after being shot today. How karma works init? And about the genocide... Well tht word couldnt save your murderous leader. The president of Sri Lanka has vowed to the Tamil people who came running to the security forces when they were being shot at by the LTTE, the so called representatives of Tamils, that he will be a dedicated leader to make them feel as honorable and respected citizens under one Sri Lankan flag. There's no place for Eelam here. So start a fight against the British, Candians or wherever and establish your Eelam. The mentality of eelam brainwashed innocent tamil youth from the day they were born, and they were Exploited due to their poverty. Nothing of what the government have been sending to the North reached innocent civilians, they were deprived of food and other neccesities. Made the blame on the Sinhalese and created hatred in them. These are what Ex LLTE leaders such as Karuna, Pillayan, Daya master has revealed.. Its a joke when you people talk abt a Genocide man. In a war there is definitely collateral damage, the worst being the USA where the number of innocent civilians killed are un imaginable. But they just keep inflicting damage in their agenda in controlling the world and managing conflicts. But the SL govt did not start this war to murder tamils. Their intentions were to wipe the terrorists and save the lives of innocent civilians. We can see how joyful those displaced people when they dance and enjoy at the entertainment shows provided to them by the govt in changing their mentalities from what the murderer Prabhakaran had portrayed. their sad life stories under the LTTE. So dont make baseless allegations. If you are a true peace loving tamil come down to Sri Lanka, cos the president has called for all Sri Lankan Tamils who are his citizens to come and join him in building your and our motherland. See the difference beyond terror for a bright future for you and for me.
This is such a biased commentary. I dont know where you are but here in London there has been a lot of support for the Tamil protesters over the past couple of months.
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