Potential of bringing together the Tamil and Sinhala diaspora

 It is said love resolves even the worst enmity. However we live in a theoretical, sceptical world where love is not even given a last chance. Patriotism can be part of humanism and humanism can be a core of patriotism. And anyone who loves the nation genuinely can be a nationalist. We should not confuse racism with nationalism. Our goal could be towards this – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

• n Putting humanism, patriotism and reconciliation into practice 

By Surya Vishwa 

Reconciliation is a much-bandied-about word in this country as well as internationally. It exists in hundreds of newspaper articles and academic research papers. It gets echoed between plush conference rooms. However, very little of it is practiced in real life. 

Ironically what is seen is that those who cunningly get away with distancing people and complicating the futures of internal affairs of countries wear this reconciliation mantle with such authority. Some of these self-same global gurus also tell us what to do with our agriculture, our finances, our health, our culture and yes, just about everything. There is nothing even remotely ‘reconciling’ about these advice though. 

There is little doubt today (even by some of the most ardent supporters of INGOS) that the brand of reconciliation as well as poverty alleviation and sustainability models promoted by these entities do more harm than good. 

Yet countries such as Sri Lanka still largely depend on these organisations to ‘fund’ peace-related initiatives. These ‘peace’ initiatives are often meaningless token initiatives originated elsewhere and driven with diverse agendas.

We have not opened up the consciousness of our business community here and abroad on the need to be self-reliant in our peace creating mechanisms and motivated them to assist in whatever funding that is needed. The honest fact is peace begins with the heart and is an internal introspective process. There is no ‘fund’ needed for creating humanity in hearts. What is needed in an integral process that will united scattered elements of society; and begin with minor changes. 

The local media, if it was creative enough could be one major stakeholder in this; not to spew out what they learn in reconciliation trainings given by foreign agencies bur rather to use their own mind to see the authentic connecting of hearts and minds within the realities and challenges of this nation as we know it. This writer is now researching into a newly-established local television channel for the purpose of linking the north with the south.

We have much potential for creating integral in country routes for peacebuilding. Heritage is a concept that could be used to bring people together and we can see this same criteria is sometimes being used for creating unrest.

Reconciliation and the West

In May and June there were resolutions passed by some Western nations pertaining to Sri Lanka and the last phase of the war. Even in this backdrop we have not delved enough and not started a discourse into the importance of self-reliance in reconciliation efforts. 

At a recent gathering where a young professional was presenting a model for a peace initiative relating to a certain segment of people, a person with many years of experience in working with Government and NGOS and INGOS, used a term that meant something like; “how will *a particular West based agency ‘buy’ and how shall we ‘sell’ the idea”. 

No one in the room commented on what was wrong with this comment. On close introspection we can see that everything is wrong with that response. It entirely explains the sorry position we are in today in bridging the gap between our people. 

Do we need a Western agency to ‘buy’ or do we have to ‘sell’ them an idea pertaining to our own solutions? Why should a Western agency fund our peace models at all? Is it fair for us to blame them when a Western country linked to the same INGO or international agency passes a resolution against Sri Lanka when we have encouraged them to interfere right along by choosing our peace making models just to cater to their fancies? 

The common sense query is why a foreign nation should fund peace in Sri Lanka. If we want peacebuilding mechanisms we could create them and spend for them. We have enough of business persons and philanthropists who can be involved. We have in this country people who spend lakhs of rupees just for one day’s shopping on meaningless tinsel. The challenge of peacebuilding is speaking to these hearts. The challenge is to make peacebuilding be ‘owned’ by the people of the country.

Also, it could be argued that to bring human beings together one does not need salaries and perks. There are enough peace related initiatives done by Sri Lankans across this island every day at zero cost. From sport to literature to poetry to media initiatives to climate change issues, to science and technology and invention; all can all be steered along peace making lines. There are scores of individuals whether they are in the military or the teaching profession or the clergy who everyday focus on bringing people together and even in situations such as ethnic riots have worked to reduce or prevent tension. The Harmony page has featured many such persons.

Ideally by next year, Sri Lanka’s ordinary people – Sinhalese, Tamils, Burghers and Muslims – would have moved at least one step forward to owning the representation of Sri Lanka internationally. Hopefully by next year we, ordinary Lankans, would have done something to speak to the Tamil diaspora abroad and bring them closer to the Sinhala diaspora. Even if the State takes zero action ordinary people can do quite a lot. Ordinary citizens of Sri Lanka, here and abroad hold different expertise and enjoy different levels of power. It may not be political power, but nevertheless it is power. Much could be done maximising this power with pure intention

Diaspora

Let us now focus on the issue of the diaspora. The fact remains that both Sinhalese and Tamils who are expats in Western nations do not talk to each other. In foreign universities a complete cold war is on between Sinhalese and Tamils. Sometimes there is serious aggression. The divide today, 12 years after the end of the war, is far worse than seen within Sri Lanka even at the height of hostilities. 

It is a fact that not all Tamils in the West are blind supporters of the LTTE. Many are the impartial Tamil intellectuals in Europe and US who can be roped into a proper discussion and whose support could be used to usher in permanent peace in the country. Their help could be used to unite Sinhalese and Tamil diaspora in the West which could change Sri Lanka’s image in the eyes of the world. This writer is part of such an initiative with others who belong to no NGO or INGO and whose calling for such unity stems from love and love alone. 

The solution to Sri Lanka’s internal problems lies within the country. Our politicians saying this as a yearly mantra at the UN is not going to create a miracle solution. We ordinary Sri Lankans cannot directly usher in policies that will help ethnic reconciliation but we can contribute greatly to create the framework for people-related unity and influence policy. We are our country. 

Sri Lanka’s misfortunate is that we have become dependent on the world for every conceivable thing; and that the world has reciprocated in kind encouraging that dependency. In the 1950s and since 1983 to date Sri Lanka lost its most brilliant minds; Burghers, Tamils and Sinhalese who could have transformed this country with their genius and prevented insanities such as the 1983 anti-Tamil riots. 

Today we regularly hear of those who were born in Sri Lanka making it big in other nations, bringing pride to those adopted countries. Anyone who tried to contribute to Sri Lanka being within this country knows just how hard it is to do so. Yet, many are the innovative ideas, whether in social entrepreneurship, health solutions or peace making that Sri Lankans, whether here or abroad are capable of and all of which could be moved in the direction of creating unity.

Reconciliation consists of visibly seen change and works best when people come together in a holistic manner (not because of an INGO agenda) to create a new way of being.

Some ideas

Following are a few ideas that were shared amongst a small group of Sri Lankans here and abroad who are trying to see if by next year March we could connect at least a few diaspora individuals across ethnic and religious lines. These groups represent the authentic Sinhala-speaking South-originated migrants and immigrants to the West and also their kith and kin remaining in Sri Lanka. 

Any Sri Lankan policy maker is free to use these ideas as these are written with that intention.

Sri Lanka could consider re-thinking how it works with Western INGOS/agencies in Sri Lanka. The yearning to come up with local peace-related ideas just so they would be attractive to foreign entities should be abandoned once and for all.

Sri Lanka could think out appointing in each of its missions abroad, a national reconciliation officer, drawn from the diplomatic staff already present in Lankan foreign missions. These officials could be affiliated with Sri Lanka-based intellectuals and practitioners in diverse fields from academia to environment or arts who will be able to inspire new initiatives to unite Sri Lankans (domiciled locally) and Tamils and Sinhala diaspora abroad. These Lankan intellectuals and practitioners can also be given the title of reconciliation officers. 

Impartial pro-peace Tamils who do not support terrorism can be selected from across Europe and the West to work with the related reconciliation officers in Sri Lanka and abroad as mentioned above.

These persons could work through many categories of interests such as Sri Lankan village development, entrepreneurship, environment protection, science and innovation, local and global health solutions, comparative spirituality and heritage studies, to name a few. These themes could be used to get Lankans overseas; both Sinhalese and Tamils to work together for solutions needed back home. 

Working with the north east affected by 30 years of war should be a top priority. These should be initiatives that has no NGO or INGO or foreign agency advice or guidance or funding and thereby entirely originated and supported by Sri Lankans. 

Unite for common solutions

Reconciling to a difficult past that is not of the making of ordinary citizens can only happen when they unite to think out common solutions. Although it is interpreted that those who leave Sri Lanka have no interest in Sri Lanka, this cannot be taken as the complete truth. In the same manner the Tamil diaspora as a whole cannot be seen as enemies of the State. 

A common sense approach would be to understand the grievances of all Tamils abroad. Having said that, it should be understood that there are those who greatly profit from pro LTTE lobbying and funding and who encourage people smuggling in the guise of asylum seeking and who have no genuine interest in the Lankan Tamils. These persons will automatically be isolated by right-thinking Tamil expatriates if Sri Lanka can usher in a proper reconciliation model between Sri Lankan Tamil and Sinhala expatriates. 

There is much potential for Sri Lankan embassies abroad to develop a reconciliation centre within it.

It is said that there are many organisations in the West that are LTTE fronts. However Sri Lanka has done little in terms of counter strategy aimed at bringing Sinhalese and Tamils together and drawing Lankan Tamil expatriates away from terrorist-linked influences. 

In this backdrop there is much potential for Sri Lanka to create an international body represented by Sri Lankans, for Lankan unity, and absorb Sinhala and Tamil diaspora with the intention of discussion and innovation. Politicisation of such an initiative should be barred.

In parallel an organisation that solely represents Sri Lankan Tamils abroad that are not associated with terrorism could be created by Sri Lankan Tamils themselves. It is well known that there are hundreds and thousands of Tamils abroad who left Sri Lanka as a last resort after 1983 and that many have never supported terrorism. It is also known that many of Tamils from the Sri Lanka’s north left the country owing to LTTE death threats after they were categorised as spies for merely being cordial with the Lankan military. Hence to categorise all Sri Lankan Tamils abroad as pro LTTE is the biggest mistake that could be make. 

It is also a grave mistake to brand as ‘a racist’ any Sinhalese who speaks up for Sinhala culture or heritage. Just as it is a right for other communities of this country to speak of their culture it is therefore also the right of the Sinhalese. Reconciliation cannot happen without understanding the fears and doubts of the Sinhalese.

Genuine reconciliation

It is general knowledge that Sri Lanka wakes up to Geneva every year at the 11th hour. In this backdrop it is unfortunate that peacebuilding in Sri Lanka is left in the hands of INGOS or NGOS. Peacebuilding is the job of every human being. Sri Lanka needs ordinary people representation at Geneva – this should be different to NGO representation. NGOs have agendas. INGOs definitely have agendas.

For genuine reconciliation, Sri Lanka should move away depending on foreign agencies for funding local peace-building programs. This remains one of the biggest threats of international interference. Peace-building should not be looked at what someone would do because they are paid to do. Those in the NGO and INGO sector who are there because they want a job might as well learn a new trade. Instead peace creation should be looked at as something that is inculcated as a way of life. That whatever we learn from primary grade in school should be shaped towards building empathy, understanding, kindness – to humans, animals and nature. The Sri Lankan Government should encourage committed Lankans to create such solutions and present them to the State.

Ideally by next year, Sri Lanka’s ordinary people – Sinhalese, Tamils, Burghers and Muslims – would have moved at least one step forward to owning the representation of Sri Lanka internationally. Hopefully by next year we, ordinary Lankans, would have done something to speak to the Tamil diaspora abroad and bring them closer to the Sinhala diaspora. Even if the State takes zero action ordinary people can do quite a lot. Ordinary citizens of Sri Lanka, here and abroad hold different expertise and enjoy different levels of power. It may not be political power, but nevertheless it is power. Much could be done maximising this power with pure intention.

Even those who support the LTTE have to be understood. Why some people joined the LTTE has to be understood. Understanding should be our mission. Our mission should be allowing the human heart to take its decisions purely based on love. This is the Buddhist way. 

It is said love resolves even the worst enmity. However we live in a theoretical, sceptical world where love is not even given a last chance. Patriotism can be part of humanism and humanism can be a core of patriotism. And anyone who loves the nation genuinely can be a nationalist. We should not confuse racism with nationalism. Our goal could be towards this.