Where Are Those Tamils?
I’m disturbed by Tamils. No. I’m not disturbed by everybody. If you are a Tamil gentlemen live in Canada or somewhere else in the world, who subscribed to “One cyanide capsule per a child” program runs by LTTE, them I’m not mad at you. If you are a hip-hop star who has not visited Sri Lanka since puberty, but talk about Sri Lanka like you know everything, then you cool. I’m not mad at you either. If you shamelessly steal credit card at the pump for LTTE, you are smart. I have no reason to mad at you since you have not stolen my credit card yet. If you are in a hunger strike to force the government to stop the offensive in north, I’m not mad at you at all. God bless you all.
But if you are not any of the above, but a proud Sri Lankan Tamil, then I am extremely mad at you. Why is that you asked? Because you people honestly don’t care about your own people. You live in relative safety in south, complain (rightfully) about all the difficulties you have to go through in south, but you don’t have empathy for the thousands of innocent Tamils LTTE caging inside the war zone, for their own benefits. You didn’t bother to open up your mouth and say, “let my people go”. Or at least write a single blog about it. Just a one blog. At least a comment. No. Nothing. You don’t care.
The only Tamil person who care to say something about that is Mr. Ananda Sangari, that I start to admire more and more every day. But other than that, I hear no voice at all, like when LTTE do things to Tamil people; it does not hurt them for some strange reason I’m not capable of understanding. I see, I hear so many Sinhalese passionately talk, argue, blog about misconduct of the government or injustice happened to Tamil people. Worry about collateral damage. But haven’t seen any Tamil person say anything remotely opposed to the conduct LTTE deliberately putting Tamil people in harm’s way and using them as human a shield.
Sometimes this not so pleasant behavior of moderate Tamils makes me thinks, I may be wrong. May be all Tamils are terrorists. May be they all single mindedly support and sacrifice for LTTE. That is why they never ever say anything against LTTE, no matter whatever they do to Tamil people. Because they all assist LTTE. But, I want to be wrong.
But if you are not any of the above, but a proud Sri Lankan Tamil, then I am extremely mad at you. Why is that you asked? Because you people honestly don’t care about your own people. You live in relative safety in south, complain (rightfully) about all the difficulties you have to go through in south, but you don’t have empathy for the thousands of innocent Tamils LTTE caging inside the war zone, for their own benefits. You didn’t bother to open up your mouth and say, “let my people go”. Or at least write a single blog about it. Just a one blog. At least a comment. No. Nothing. You don’t care.
The only Tamil person who care to say something about that is Mr. Ananda Sangari, that I start to admire more and more every day. But other than that, I hear no voice at all, like when LTTE do things to Tamil people; it does not hurt them for some strange reason I’m not capable of understanding. I see, I hear so many Sinhalese passionately talk, argue, blog about misconduct of the government or injustice happened to Tamil people. Worry about collateral damage. But haven’t seen any Tamil person say anything remotely opposed to the conduct LTTE deliberately putting Tamil people in harm’s way and using them as human a shield.
Sometimes this not so pleasant behavior of moderate Tamils makes me thinks, I may be wrong. May be all Tamils are terrorists. May be they all single mindedly support and sacrifice for LTTE. That is why they never ever say anything against LTTE, no matter whatever they do to Tamil people. Because they all assist LTTE. But, I want to be wrong.
posted by Sam at
12:53 AM
17 Comments:
I have seen somewhere (don't ask where, I can't remember) those Tamils you talk about.
The only reasonable logic I can come up with is,
LTTE has drawn an impressive picture in front of Tamils, they hardly believe LTTE is loosing, or they really do not care for the Billy boys of the lower casts, given that their life worth nothing.
Maybe they are so frightened seeing the uncivil bestiality of LTTE. Every Tamil has someone living in that cursed peninsula. In case LTTE re-mount, guess whose gonna pay the bill first?
Don't worry, we will see things change rapidly in the future.
And I can assure you, you are wrong!
Another reason that I could think of is that the Tamils fancy the idea of a "Tamil Country". That's probably why the Tamil Nadu "baw baws" wag their tails so much for the LTTE.
whow...powerful post...i guss ur right in a lot of ways...it actually got me thinking...
Didnt see much of the vociferous bloggers making much noise over this....may be its not in thier best interest..
but then again it bewilders why a community ever so outspoken on human rights and media freedom putting up such silence over this crisis...
Well, those Tamils are working for the BBC. You should've seen the byline BBC was running yesterday - "Tamils will not leave LTTE because they feel protected" or something to that effect. As if the rest of the Tamil population that lives outside current LTTE territory was wrong. Ooops, I forgot, they are NOT Tamils... because they co-exist with the rest of the SRI LANKANS!!!
oh this issue is so tiresome. You get all sorts of tamils with different views. My best friend at work is one, and one thing we agree on is that all parties fuelling this war on is wrong and that all sri lankans need peace of mind.
What irks me are cases like an aquantance who burned his HAND, and asked for asylum from UK. it was granted, and now he's going around saying "You can hardly walk around freely in SL" ect. I'm thinking, Dude....24 years in SL? Colombo? A good school? Mixing with many races. KNOWING the real story? And putting your country down?
Sad.
True enough. The problem is however, that the natural reluctance within Tamils who dont agree with the LTTE to argue against the GOSL for the fear of being branded LTTE supporters. Sad but true. Also, nost moderate Tamils also rarely voice thir opinions in public, primarily due to the fear of the LTTE but also laely due to the environment created by th present govt. They just dont bother to get involved.
Its funny when u expect the tamils to voice their opinions when the sinhalese themselves are killed or had to flee the country or branded as LTTE for voicing theirs. Irony isnt it :)
Anon,
It is NOT funny. It not funny to me. It is not funny to those Tamils caged by LTTE. It is simply not funny.
Sinhalese criticize the government regardless whatever the hardship they have to go through. There is a dialog. I do not expect Tamils to criticize LTTE. All I wanted was just to say ‘let my people go’.
No there is no irony. Only sadness.
The Benevolent Dictator,
// They just don’t bother to get involved.//
That is a common myth. Tamils are very much involved in Sri Lankan politics. They even had enough power to make or break governments in SL.
Many Tamils are political refugees in western countries.
//Also, nost moderate Tamils also rarely voice thir opinions in public, primarily due to the fear of the LTTE but also laely due to the environment created by th present govt. They just dont bother to get involved.//
Being a Tamil living in Colombo, I'm saying.. above statement is true.
if you are close enough, they will express their views with you. but they don't want to express them to just any person. they are paranoid. and scared to voice their opinion. oh common, even a Sinhalese is afraid to talk against the gov these days. they become traitors if they do. its the same with a tamil talking against ltte. they are traitors... :)
Correct me Sam, if I'm wrong... This isn't about "raising your voice against the present government" is it?
I see some of the Anons gotten it wrong here..
If in SL;
how to talk for Tamils without being branded either as a terrorist, a T.sympathiser(=terrorist) or being anti-government(=supporting terror)?
better shut up than attract attention, no?
If abroad, then see this:
http://chitrangi.wordpress.com/2008/08/31/what-is-the-future-of-sri-lanka-prof-rajan-hoole/
The Different Anon is correct. I have to make it clear.
I’m not talking about criticizing the government. I don’t have to tell anyone to do that, because that is what we all do. Don’t say Tamils can’t voice against the SL government, because SL government is what Tamils have criticize the most in the most remarkable Tamil history stretch thousands of years back to. SL government collects criticism from Tamils the most, in its short and not so glamorous history too. Tell me if it is not true. When you criticize any government in any country, Russian, US or SL, you always have to go through hardships(not a justification).
What I’m asking here is why Tamils do not voice when LTTE harm Tamil people? True. May be they are scared of LTTE. But don’t they have a responsibility when LTTE using thousands of Tamils as a human shield and when they can do something about it? Don’t they have a responsibility to say, “Let my people go”. Can anyone, even Tamils, have Rights without Responsibilities?
The link on Chitrangani's blog says it all.
Hmmm...i went through the link provided...actually it is a very insightful post, it is exactly whats lacking from the tamil coomunity...
As the speaker suggests the tamils abroad have failed to build up a credible voice which would stand stern and condemn atrocities committed no matter which side they were from...
An i think thats the whole point of this post also,where are the democratic voices who cryout loud for peace? from human rights? for justice in this unfolding scenario?
btw the post on Chithrangi's is a much broader matter altogether...
Guys I am very happy to see this discussion.
I'm a sinhalese and I live in Canada. You should see the protests that happen here in Toronto, pro-LTTE Tamil supporters accusing government of "genocide" and all that, but sadly none aware of (or ignorant of) the suffering of Tamils under LTTE rule.
We the Sinhalese are a very small community here in Toronto and are obviously fearful of speaking up about LTTE especially now when thousands are on the streets protesting supposed "genocide". Additionally I'm certain there must be Tamils here who are against LTTE that are also fearful of speaking up as well.
You know, at my university a whole group of Tamil youth paraded with the LTTE flag declaring support and burnt the Sri Lankan flag?
So what I would really like to see happen is for especially TAMILS to speak up atleast here on the Internet. Open an email account or facebook account under a different name if you wish to conceal your identity, or whatever and please start speaking up about LTTE. Maybe it would mean nothing, but atleast it'll be something. An "internet campaign" can be put in motion to spread more knowledge and awareness. I mean, they are more likely to listen to a fellow Tamil than a Sinhalese person right? All I ever get is "f*** you" or "die sinhalese dog". Some of us support the SL government, some of us don't. But NONE of us should be supporting LTTE. This attitude of "LTTE is our saviours" needs to stop.
The Internet is a perfect medium for Tamils worldwide who are against LTTE to voice themselves in safety!
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