“How can they then hate the Singhalese so much?” You as a Journalist Shenali, should have researched this and had an answer for us readers. You don’t seem to know. Any problem has a route cause and it is best to find that route cause even in the issue of the Ethnic problem in Sri Lanka. I don’t understand if you are beating about the bush or just being childish. You don’t seem to understand why there is hatred among the communities in question when the hatred is cultivated on a daily basis by the Singhalese regime using the controlled media. Some irresponsible journalists only keep adding fuel to the current situation.
This ethnic hatred was cultivated ever since the requirement was created to identify one along his or her ethnic lines. From documentation of a birth certificate to every thing else that is required to get on with life. Added to the plight of Tamils was the introduction of the National Identity card in the sixties which is sometimes pretty much like carrying a death warrant when confronted by the security authorities. This NID says it all. Shenali you will never know these facts because you don’t carry a Tamil identity card. It is the Singhalese governments and the media who are wanting the world to see the separatist Tigers and the Tamils as one thing. The term ‘Tamil Tigers’ is used so much so often that the Tamil people have become so helpless. The Singhalese population on the other hand have no option but to look at even their life time Tamil friend or their Tamil neighbor with suspision. They are victimized where ever they go. Be it the police station, the local authorities or any other government department, their National identity card carried by them often turns un favorable to them. If Shenali could only disguise her self as a Tamil citizen and go about doing things she will definitely get educated.
Amongst thousands of such incidents here is a slightly different one which cultivates hatred in little children’s minds. There was this little grade four Tamil girl who was attending and getting educated in the Singhalese medium and doing well in her academics with plenty of Singhalese friends around her, when one day in class the teacher had asked all Tamil children to stand up, (why this teacher had done so is a different issue) and eventually realized that she herself was the only girl standing up amongst all the Singhalese children. I know personally how this girl’s care free world fell apart because she happens to be none other than my niece. In our times we as children were not aware if we were Singhalese or Tamils and I don’t think it really mattered. But the damage being done today by the Singhalese governments and the irresponsible media is irreparable. Hatred cultivation is even on children’s television programmes. Whilst only the demonisation of the Tamils is continuing in a very systematic way the government and the military is making no effort to win the hearts of the Tamils which un doubtably should be the first step towards any effort in isolating a separatist movement. Instead, by the oppression and harassment, the Tamil population is pushed towards seeking refuge inside an umbrella of such separatist movements. Yes, while spending Billions of tax payer’s money (please remember that Tamils are tax payers too) to defeat terrorism they are also breeding terrorism by their short sighted foolish methods. You keep maintaining that over 50% of Tamil population still live amongst the majority Singhalese. True, but you are forgetting to mention more about the so called mob riots in the eighties and many more such they face occasionally as ‘tit for tat’ action for what is being done by the Tigers in the north and north Eastern areas. You are also forgetting to mention about the Tamils that were killed cold blooded, burnt alive whilst some mobs had fun pushing them from building tops and looted and burnt their properties in broad day light before the very eyes of the police and the army. These atrocities were not carried out by the ordinary Singhalese citizen (the ordinary Tamil knows it and that is why they still live among the Singhalese) but organized, carried out and supervised by the state in an effort to wipe out Tamils from these areas. Me and my family being a first hand witness to most of these so called riots were fortunately spared thanks to our Singhalese friends and neighbors. Our parents told us stories of similar incidents in the past. And still Shenali, you call it mob riots. Whilst rest of the world was made to understand this was civil war. Like to look up the dictionary for the definition ‘civil war’?
It is the Extreme Singhalese and their blood thirsty military (yah! it is a Singhalese military and not a Sri Lankan military) backed by the foolish politicians that breed terrorists and suicide bombers and they don’t need to be brain washed at all.
Having said all the above Journalists like yoursef should know that it is still not too late, salvaging from the broken peace because there is really no ethnic hatred amongst communities but a sense of doubt. There is no Civil war in Sri Lanka as some people claim to have, for their own petty advantages. The ordinary Tamil and the Singhalese don’t look to kill each other. Inter marriages are still taking place. So the responsible Journalists should pick their interpretations carefully not to cause damage to a salvageable peace. You should stop writing as a ‘Singhalese Journalist’ and setoff on investigative Journalism. Celebrating your daughter’s birthday at an orphanage though a good thing is not good enough, to set examples to the younger generation.
In neutral journalism there cannot be ‘us’ and ‘them’. You have to be like a cricket commentator. Other wise you are biased. You have to be careful specially when you mention things like “the children sang in our own language, Singhalese” because as a writer you are addressing a multi communal issue.
Let us leave the rebels and our military to do the war fare whilst doing our best to wipe out germs of hatred in communities in question which would eventually eradicate terrorism. You journalists can do so much towards this.
I will criticize when I have to but also want to be optimistic about any genuine effort put in by any personal, belonging to any community and hope such forums will turn into healthy arguments for the sake of peace in our country.