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| Sunday, 28 August 2005 |
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Tribalism and the Kadirgamar image Light Refractions by Lucien Rajakarunanayake While the nation still mourns the death of Lakshman Kadirgamar, there are those seeking to hi-jack his work and image for their own purposes, and create a new Kadirgamar in their image and likeness. For many years, the so-called leaders of Sinhala Buddhists had a grudging respect for Lakshman Kadirgamar for his tiring and successful efforts at exposing the truth about the LTTE's terror and getting it banned by some Western countries. After his assassination, they made the posthumous discovery that it was he who was responsible for the UN declaring the Vesak Full Moon Day, as an international day of religious significance in the World Calendar. They prefer to remain silent about Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam being responsible for making Vesak Day a holiday in Sri Lanka. Giving due credit to that Tamil Hindu is of no importance to those who seek to hi-jack the mantle of Lakshman Kadirgamar. Lakshman Kadirgamar, who never openly followed any one of religion, is now being regarded as almost the greatest Buddhist, since Colonel Olcott or the Anagarika Dharmapala. A Buddhist friend concerned by this trend of making Lakshman Kadirgamar more of a Sinhala Buddhist, than a Tamil who believed more in the importance of reason than religion, fears that very soon he may even be declared an Arahat. Such is the current policy of destroying the real image of Lakshman Kadirgamar, to the extent that he will be hated not only by the LTTE but even more by the Tamils who he was trying so hard to save from the fascist clutches of terror of the LTTE. The current urge to "Sinhalise" Kadirgamar can only lead to making him an Avatar of Dutugemunu, which may suit the narrow politics of some Sinhala Buddhist politicians, and in the process will demean the image of a great son of Sri Lanka, who always treated the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and all others as his compatriots in a single land. One of the few occasions when he showed anger was at a press conference when a journalist asked how he could work against the LTTE, when he was a Tamil. "Do not make me a tribalist", he angrily retorted. He did not believe in the labels of race and religion attached to people after birth. The reams of sympathy The death of no Sri Lankan in recent times has brought in so many messages of sympathy from all over the world. That shows the prestige with which he was regarded by all those whom he worked with in his mission to make Sri Lanka a genuine democracy with equality for all. However, in going through these messages of sympathy and tributes to a great man, one cannot help noticing a constant touch of the absurd. While on the one hand, they sympathise at his demise, they are all united in asking that the Cease Fire Agreement or the Pease Process be continued, despite this ghastly act of terror by the LTTE. None of these great names have bothered to ask themselves how any sorrow at the killing of such a man could be linked to continuing to have the same relationships with those responsible for his killing. This is what Jan Peterson, the Norwegian Foreign Minister says: "The killing of Lakshman Kadirgamar puts the peace process in Sri Lanka to a serious test. It is now of great importance that both parties to the conflict do their utmost to fully fulfil their obligations according to the Cease Fire Agreement. "There is nothing on what Norway was doing not all the while since the CFA was signed to ensure that the LTTE fulfil its obligations by the CFA. Their failure in their chosen task stands out in stark contrast to the sentiments expressed by Peterson. UN Secretary General Koffi Annan said: "This tragedy will not weaken the commitment of the people of Sri Lanka to achieve a durable peace in the country. "Reads:" The CFA that enabled the killing of Kadirgamar should continue undisturbed. "Such sentiments even lack the basic shock and horror at the huge tragedy that took place. It is worth reminding Secretary General Kofi Annan, and the UN Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Miguel Bermeo, on whose advice he acted, how the LTTE showed its gratitude for the message of sympathy that Kofi Annan sent on the occasion of the killing of the LTTE's Kaushalyan. The thanks by the LTTE came on August 15. Nearly 60 of its armed cadres stormed into the UN compound at Kilinochchi and tore town the UN flags that were at half-mast to honour Lakshman Kadirgamar on a day of national mourning. The lesson is simple. You sympathise with terrorists, and they do not pay you back in kind. How can Kofi Annan talk glibly of a durable peace in Sri Lanka, until the
UN takes serious action against the LTTE? It is the same with all others who
did not link their sympathies with a commitment to rein in the LTTE.
Lakshman Kadirgamar deserved more than this duplicity of international
diplomacy. |
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