2
History
• Sinhalese Kingdoms in
the South-West (grey).
3
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.
”
4
History
• 1505 -1658: Portuguese held the island
7
THE PROBLEM: First Element
1. Two Historically Feuding Ethnic Groups
8
THE PROBLEM: Second Element
9
THE PROBLEM: Third Element
• Two Historically Feuding Ethnic Groups.
• Centralized Unitary Government.
• Constitutionally entrenched Sinhala
Rule.
SINHALESE COMMAND
ABSOLUTE POWER
…and, it is PERMANENT!
10
THE PROBLEM: ‘Mistreatment’ of Tamils
• 1948 – 1 million Tamils declared as non-citizens
11
TAMIL POLITICAL ACTION
NON-VIOLENCE
(1948 – 1976)
12
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.
13
TAMIL POLITICAL ACTION
NON-VIOLENCE
School Girls Marching against ethnic based standardization (1972)
14
TAMIL POLITICAL ACTION: NON-VIOLENCE
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE:
VIOLENCE
(Since 1956)
Anti-Tamil Pogrom
1983
Government sponsored
Sinhala Thugs tortured a Tamil
Man, then poured gasoline on
him and burnt him alive
(July 1983)
16
TAMIL POLITICAL ACTION: NON-VIOLENCE
17
TURNING POINT - 1976
• Resolution for Independence: Vaddukoddai Resolution
– 30 year struggle for equality denied.
– 1977 Election: Tamils ratify the call for independence by 82% popular
vote
”
•Recognition of the Right to Citizenship of all Tamils.
19
1983 - 2002
– Entire Tamil Nation rallied behind LTTE and carry out
armed struggle for independence.
21
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
2002
Ceasefire
Monitored by Scandinavian Countries
(Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission - SLMM)
Direct Dialogue
Facilitated By the Royal Norwegian Government
22
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…
”
[at the northern FDL February 2002]
23
THE OSLO DECLARATION:
Signed by the SLG and the LTTE on 25 November 2002
“
Envoy Mr.Yasusi Akashi
”
SLG’s Prof. G.L.eiris,
at the Oslo Conference, 25 November
24
BROKEN AGREEMENTS
Within 3 years… 2002-2005
25
November 2005
Election of President Rajapakse
Campaign promises:
• No recognition of Tamil Homeland or right to Self-Rule.
• No to Federal Solution
• No to International Mediation
"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] 28
Violence after Election of President Rajapakse
Targeted Killing of Tamil Civilians
29
Violence after Election of President Rajapakse
Targeted Killing of Tamil Civilians
31
US Foreign Policy & Role
Toward Sri Lanka and Tamils
32
US Policy & Role
• In 1996 Sri Lanka influenced US to designate LTTE as FTO.
• In 2004 elections, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) accepted the LTTE
as the National Leadership of the Tamils, and won 97% of Tamils’ votes.
”
way forward to end this conflict.
34
US ROLE
1. Military Assistance to SL Army
• Stop It
2. Financial Aid to SL Government
• Monitor it
3. Public Statements
• Be fair to both nation
4. ‘Diplomacy’
• Treat both parties Equally
35
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)
36
US GOVERNMENT
Mr. Richard Boucher
Assistant US Secretary of State
[Colombo; 26 June 2006]
”
in their homeland, in the areas they’ve traditionally
inhabited. -
37
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...
”
… A US – LTTE direct contact is worth Trying.
38
EU followed US and placed LTTE on the FTO list
“ 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...
”
have signed the ceasefire agreement as equal partners.”
39
US DIPLOMAT
Teresita C. Schaffer
Former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka
(June 2005)
”
wisely handled.”
40
US CONGRESS
Rep. Brad Sherman
March 15, 2006
“
I’ve 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…
”
Sri Lanka is not a terrible objective.
41
US DIPLOMAT
Jeffrey Lunstead
Former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka
[May 2007]
”
LTTE as an FTO (Foreign Terrorist Organization)
42
60 Years... The result:
• More than 100,000 Tamils Killed and Disappeared
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…
45
Kosovo & Tamil Eelam
What is good for Kosovo is good for Tamil Eelam
46
What the Tamil Americans expect from the
Government of the United States:
Play a leadership role to find a political solution
to the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil People.
47
48